Electrochemical Portable Device for Wastewater Remediation: Evaluating the Efficacy of Zeolites against Ibuprofen Contamination

The increasing prevalence of emerging contaminants, such as pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and industrial chemicals, in wastewater presents significant risks to water quality, ecosystems, and public health. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, are particularly concerning due to their persistence in wastewater and adverse effects on aquatic environments and biodiversity. Electrochemical sensors have emerged as innovative tools for real-time monitoring of such contaminants, enabling the detection and quantification of trace levels and supporting more effective wastewater management strategies. Among these, zeolitesmicroporous minerals with high adsorption capacity and ion exchange propertieshave demonstrated strong potential for economical, sustainable, and environmentally friendly wastewater remediation, particularly given their ability to be regenerated. In this study, a polyester-based electrochemical sensor for ibuprofen detection was developed, analytically characterized, and validated in wastewater. The sensor achieved a detection limit of 1.6 μg/mL and a repeatability of 8% in wastewater. The remediation system was optimized by evaluating different quantities and exposure times of surfactant-modified and unmodified zeolite-rich tuff powder. Then, the complete setup was successfully tested in the presence of ibuprofen-contaminated wastewater demonstrating a remediation efficiency of 73% using the modified zeolite. The sensor, connected to a portable potentiostat, successfully provided on-site measurements to evaluate the effectiveness of zeolites in wastewater remediation from ibuprofen.