Development of Magnetic Nanoparticle‐Added Cryogel Membrane Materials for the Removal of Pharmaceutical Wastes

ABSTRACT The increasing use of drugs, animal husbandry, health institutions, and the pharmaceutical industry is leading to an increase in pharmaceutical residues, which can cause neurological and cardiac diseases in living organisms. Removing these wastes is crucial for ensuring living health, environment, and water safety. New‐generation materials, such as cryogel membranes, can be used for drug removal through analytical separation methods combining cryogel membranes and magnetic nanoparticles. In this study, magnetic mg‐Fe 3 O 4 ‐APTES nanoparticle‐doped p(HEMA)‐phenylboronic acid (PBA) cryogel membranes for the removal of dopamine (DA), which was selected as the target molecule from pharmaceutical wastes, from industrial wastewater, were synthesized, characterized, modified on the basis of boronate affinity interaction, and DA adsorption and removal studies were carried out. The developed cryogel membranes were able to adsorb DA at a rate of 81.3% in just 15 min, with a very high adsorption capacity and specificity of 1969.1 mg/g, even after five adsorption–desorption cycles, and with high specificity and specificity in an artificial urine environment prepared to simulate hospital waste. It was concluded that it performed the correct removal. In the study, specific and reusable cryogel membranes that are easy to use, low‐cost and provide high‐capacity removal in a short time, which can also provide physical removal with their preparation and magnetic properties, were developed. The developed cryogel membranes have the potential to be used in the field for the removal of pharmaceutical wastes with these superior properties. Highlights Exposure to hormone wastes can lead to neurological and cardiac diseases. Nanoparticle‐embedded cryogel membranes can be used for drug removal. Developed system provides low‐cost, quick, easy to use, and high capacity removal.