Electromembrane extraction using deep eutectic solvent-supported liquid membranes in a 3D-printed multi-compartment...

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Environmental Science
• Materials Science

Background:

• Pharmaceuticals are common water pollutants.
• Existing methods for pharmaceutical analysis can be complex and time-consuming.
• There is a need for efficient and environmentally friendly extraction techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel simultaneous microextraction method for six pharmaceutical products.
• To utilize deep eutectic solvents (DES) as supported liquid membranes (SLM) in electromembrane extraction (EME).
• To employ a custom-designed 3D-printed device for enhanced extraction efficiency.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis and characterization of three menthol-based DES.
• Application of DES-SLM in a 3D-printed device for electromembrane extraction (EME).
• Optimization of EME parameters including time, voltage, and pH.
• Analysis of extracted pharmaceuticals using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector (UHPLC-DAD).

Main Results:

• Successful simultaneous extraction of tetracycline, ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, diclofenac, and ibuprofen.
• Achieved limits of detection from 0.05 to 0.4 μg L⁻¹.
• Obtained enrichment factors between 10.7 and 13.1 with high recoveries (83-102%) in wastewater samples.

Conclusions:

• The combination of 3D-printed devices, DES-SLM, and EME is a robust and reproducible analytical strategy.
• This method provides an environmentally friendly approach for monitoring pharmaceutical pollutants in water.
• The developed technique is suitable for the analysis of real-world water samples.