Deep Eutectic Solvent-Assisted Synthesis of a Strontium Tungstate Bifunctional Catalyst: Investigation on the Electrocatalytic Determination and Photocatalytic Degradation of Acetaminophen and Metformin Drugs.

In this work, we propose a modified solid-state approach for the sustainable preparation of a SrWO 4 bifunctional catalyst using thymol-menthol-based natural deep eutectic green solvents (NADESs). Various spectroscopic and morphological techniques analyzed the as-synthesized SrWO 4 particles. Acetaminophen (ATP) and metformin (MTF) were selected as the model drug compounds. The electrochemical detection and photocatalytic degradation of ATP and MTF upon ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) light irradiation in the presence of as-prepared SrWO 4 particles as an active catalyst are examined. The present study displayed that the proposed catalyst SrWO 4 has enhanced catalytic activity in achieving the optimum experimental conditions, and linear ranges of ATP = 0.01-25.90 μM and MTF = 0.01-25.90 μM, a lower limit of detection (LOD) value (ATP = 0.0031 μM and MTF = 0.008 μM), and higher sensitivity toward ATP and MTF determination were obtained. Similarly, the rate constant was found to be k = ATP = 0.0082 min -1 and MTF = 0.0296 min -1 according to the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model, benefitting from the excellent synergistic impact of the SrWO 4 catalyst toward the photocatalytic degradation of the drug molecule. Hence, this work offers innovative insights into the applicability of the as-prepared SrWO 4 bifunctional catalyst as an excellent functional material for the remediation of emerging pollutants in water bodies with a recovery range of 98.2-99.75%.