A dual-function crystalline sensor: tris(2-carboxyethyl) isocyanurate for ultra-sensitive detection and sustainable degradation of tetracycline antibiotics†

Abstract

The widespread use of antibiotics has led to severe environmental contamination, necessitating the development of efficient and sustainable strategies for their detection and removal from wastewater. Tetracycline (TC), a broad-spectrum antibiotic extensively used in human and veterinary medicine, persists in aquatic environments, contributing to antimicrobial resistance and ecological toxicity. In this study, we present a highly stable luminescent tris(2-carboxyethyl) isocyanurate crystal (1) as a multifunctional material for the simultaneous detection and degradation of TC in aqueous systems. The luminescence response of (1) was systematically evaluated for sensing various antibiotics, with TC exhibiting the highest quenching efficiency of 96.07%. Additionally, photocatalytic degradation experiments demonstrated that (1) achieved a maximum degradation efficiency of 87.50% for TC under optimized conditions. The exceptional performance of (1) can be attributed to its strong hydrogen bonding interactions, efficient electron transfer mechanisms, and robust structural stability in aqueous environments. This study highlights the potential of organic crystalline materials as effective platforms for both antibiotic detection and wastewater treatment, offering a promising alternative to conventional adsorbents and sensors.