Carbon dots support for preconcentration and analysis of anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen: an innovative remedy for wastewater treatment

Ibuprofen, an anti-inflammatory medicine, has attracted attention as an emerging environmental pollutant due to its high human consumption, ubiquitous presence in various habitats, and low rate of environmental degradation. Consequently, various types of quantum dots and analytical techniques have been utilized to detect ibuprofen. Nevertheless, these methods often pose toxicity risks and require advanced technical expertise. In this study, fluorescine modified carbon dots (F@CDs) were synthesized from a green precursor, namely milk doped with fluorescein. The resulting F@CDs acted as adsorbent sites, enabling the detection of ibuprofen through analyte adsorption. The findings were quantified using a UV spectrophotometer, while the quenching behavior was observed using a fluorescent lamp. To facilitate convenient and on-site detection of ibuprofen, the F@CDs were preconcentrated on paper-based handmade strips. These synthesized carbon dots exhibited yellowish-green fluorescence, serving as effective probes for detecting ibuprofen in aqueous solutions, even at concentrations as low as 0.193µg/L. This method proxves to be practical by virtue of its simplicity, affordability, ease of use, and environmentally friendly features, coupled with a notable limit of detection.