Trace Diclofenac Detection in Water Samples Using Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS)

Diclofenac (DCF), a commonly used antiinflammatory drug and a typical pharmaceutical and personal care product (PPCP), is frequently detected in freshwater and coastal water samples. Diclofenac in ecosystems adversely affects the health of living organisms, even in trace quantities. With current detection methods for DCF at trace levels often being inadequate in sensitivity and accessibility, advancement of PPCP research and effective environmental policymaking is limited. This project focused on developing a more sensitive and efficient method for trace DCF detection in water samples using surfaceenhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). By employing 20 nm silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), this SERS method successfully detected DCF concentrations as low as 6.25 ng/L within 10 seconds. This approach represents the potential of SERS in DCF and PPCP detection by offering a faster, more sensitive, and easily accessible solution for environmental monitoring and research.