Photocatalytic Degradation of Paracetamol and Cefixime Trihydrate Drugs using Fe۲O۳-ZnO and Fe۲O۳-ZnO/Ag Nanocomposites

Background: The pharmaceutical residues and their metabolites in water, even at low concentrations, is of concern due to their effects on the aquatic environment. Objective: The current study aimed to investigate the photocatalytic degradation of paracetamol and cefixime trihydrate drugs from aqueous media using nanocomposites. Material and Methods: In this experimental study, the photocatalytic degradation of paracetamol and cefixime trihydrate drugs have been investigated using Fe۲O۳-ZnO and Fe۲O۳-ZnO/Ag nanocomposites. XRD, FESEM, EDS, elemental mapping (e-mapping) and UV-Visible analysis were used to characterize the nanocomposites. Results: The photocatalytic performance efficiency of Fe۲O۳-ZnO and Fe۲O۳-ZnO/Ag nanocomposites was ۴۵% and ۷۲%, respectively, for paracetamol in ۱۸۰ min. However, the photocatalytic performance efficiency of Fe۲O۳-ZnO and Fe۲O۳-ZnO/Ag nanocomposites for the degradation of cefixime trihydrate was ۳۸% and ۵۵%, respectively during ۶۰ min.  Conclusion: Fe۲O۳-ZnO and Fe۲O۳-ZnO/Ag nanocomposites demonstrated effective photocatalytic performance in the removal of paracetamol and cefixime trihydrate drugs.

کلیدواژه ها:

Photocatalytic Degradation ، Cefixime ، Acetaminophen ، Zinc oxide ، Ferric Compounds