Novel carbon based smart filters for remediation of pharmaceutical contaminants

Chem. contamination including pharmaceutical residues of water sources continues to threaten the homeostasis of our ecosystem. Remediation of hydrocarbon-​based pharmaceutical content in water bodies put forward a major challenge due to the high risk of leaving significant traces of the remedy in water system thereby creating another chem. imbalance and loss of aquatic harmony. We have developed a "smart-​filter" unit using tunable, biodegradable, and com.-​amenable nano-​device pharmaceutical-​nanocarboscavengers (PNCS) to efficiently and safely deal with pharmaceutical residues. Carbon-​cored dual-​shell nanoparticles were synthesized by post-​passivating an amphiphilic block polymer on surface cross linked carbon nanoparticles obtained from natural sugar source. Scavenging ability of PNCS was verified by using optimized protocols followed by LC-​MS​/MS. It was found the removal of 63.5 ± 0.4 % of Carbamazepine, 99.76 ± 0.01 % of Gemfibrozil and almost all of the Triclocarban from a mixt. contg. 0.2 μg​/L of each of Carbamazepine, Gemfibrozil and Triclocarban could be achieved by merely using 0.5 mg​/mL of PNCS. Added to this PNCS could be used for more than five cycles of scavenging ability more than 30​%. Smart filters were made using PNCS in tertiary layer below sand and activated charcoal and could be used as an addnl. unit in hospital waste control unit to send a more cleaner and safer effluent to general hospital sewage system.