ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Advanced ZrO₂–curcumin quantum dot nanocomposite for electrochemical sensing and nanofiber-based removal of xylene: mechanistic, statistical insights, and future outlook

Renjith Kumar Rasal, Iffath Badsha, Kozo Fujiwara, Thiyagarajan Devasena, and Arivanandhan Mukannan

Centre for Nanoscience and Technology, Anna University, Chennai, India

E-mail: kozo.fujiwara.c6@tohoku.ac.jp

Received: 15 August 2025  Accepted: 6 December 2025

Abstract:

The widespread presence of xylene in aquatic environments, primarily originating from industrial effluents, accidental spills, fuel leaks, and runoff from urban and construction activities, poses serious toxicological and ecological risks. This underscores the urgent need for its sensitive detection and effective removal. In this study, we report for the first time the dual functionality of curcumin quantum dots conjugated with zirconium oxide nanoparticles (ZrO₂-CMQD) for the electrochemical sensing of xylene and its subsequent removal using a nanofiber-based filtration platform. The ZrO₂-CMQD composite demonstrated a robust electrochemical response, achieving an impressive anodic sensitivity of 1.86 µA µM⁻¹ cm⁻² over a linear detection range of 10–125 µM, with a low detection limit of 2 µM and a quantification limit of 6 µM. For filtration applications, the composite was embedded into polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers via electrospinning, with fabrication parameters optimized using the TOPSIS–Taguchi statistical design of experiments. The resulting ZrO₂-CMQD/PAN nanofiber membrane achieved 95.43% xylene removal efficiency, coupled with excellent recyclability and photocatalytic flux regeneration under visible light. These results highlight the potential of the developed material as a multifunctional platform for real-world environmental remediation applications.

Keywords: Curcumin; Zirconia; Xylene; Electrochemical sensor; Polyacrylonitrile nanofiber

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-025-04585-5

Chemical Papers 80 (5) 4771–4791 (2026)