Electrochemical detection of furosemide and its removal from wastewater using adsorption method

Among the industrial pollutants, pharmaceutical contaminants are the second most pressing global environmental issue following carbon dioxide emissions. Addressing this challenge, the present work introduces a dual-function approach for the detection and elimination of the diuretic drug furosemide from pharmaceutical wastewater. The electrochemical nanosensor was developed and optimized by adjusting deposition time, applied potential, electrolyte composition and solution pH. The sensor was found to exhibit the qualities of repeatability, reproducibility, recovery and selectivity, achieving a limit of detection of 10 pM for the targeted drug. For wastewater purification from furosemide, an environmentally benign method was introduced using macroporous biocryogel, which was synthesized and characterized by XRD, FTIR and SEM. Owing to its macroporous structure, the biocryogel rapidly removed 90% of furosemide within 26 min, significantly outperforming conventional adsorptive removal processes. The adsorbent demonstrated a maximum adsorption capacity of 10.25 mg/g, indicating effective drug removal that corresponds with the Langmuir isotherm at lower concentrations and the Freundlich isotherm at higher concentrations. The process of adsorption was determined to adhere to pseudo-second-order kinetics, underscoring the promising role of vinyl imidazole-chitosan cryogel in innovative and sustainable environmental remediation approaches. This report is the inaugural document detailing protocols for the detection and removal of furosemide from wastewater.