Preparation of a Filtrable Polypyrrole‐Modified Cellulose Material for Solid‐Phase Extraction and Detection of 15 Nonsteroidal Anti‐Inflammatory Drugs in Water

ABSTRACT

As emerging contaminants in the environment, nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are present at trace concentrations and difficult to detect, necessitating enrichment via solid‐phase extraction (SPE) process. Therefore, a cost‐effective, environmentally friendly, flexible, and filterable polypyrrole‐modified cellulose extraction paper (PPy/MCEP) was prepared from dissolving pulp through in‐situ polymerization. The SEM, FT‐IR, XPS, and NMR characterizations confirmed the successful integration of polypyrrole onto the cellulose matrix. The PPy/MCEP was then employed to extract 15 NSAIDs from water samples, followed by quantification using HPLC‐MS/MS. The adsorption mechanism of PPy/MCEP for NSAIDs involved a synergistic combination of electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding. Maximum adsorption occurred at pH 5.0, with adsorption capacities ranging from 71.5 to 135 µg·cm ⁻² . Notably, the PPy/MCEP maintained its performance over at least six cycles. The recovery of NSAIDs in surface water, groundwater and wastewater ranged from 28.1% to 138%, with a standard deviation below 18.7% and the limits of quantification from 0.11 to 22.4 ng·L ⁻¹ . PPy/MCEP matched the performance of commercial SPE cartridges, with the advantages of simplicity, cost‐effectiveness, environmental sustainability, and reusability.