Enhanced Photodegradation of Ciprofloxacin Antibiotic Using ZnO@FAU Composite: a Promising Material for Contaminant Removal

In this work, Faujasite zeolite (FAU) was used as support for photoactive ZnO particles, which were prepared by in situ assembly to zeolite as photocatalyst to degrade emerging organic pollutants like pharmaceuticals in water bodies. Physicochemical characterization techniques such as PXRD, FTIR, solid-state NMR, N2 adsorption-desorption, SEM, and DRS-UV revealed good compatibility between the inorganic components, resulting in intriguing surface properties for chemical reactions. This material efficiently degraded the antibiotic ciprofloxacin, showing a significant removal rate of 92% within 90minutes under UV light due to a cooperative effect between FAU and ZnO. The photocatalytic process followed a direct mechanism, where h+ plays a crucial role in oxidizing the drug molecules adsorbed on the catalyst surface. In addition to pharmaceuticals, the ZnO@FAU composite was also employed in the photodecolorization of Indigo Carmine and Rhodamine B dyes, revealing a removal of 100% and 99%, respectively. These results showcase this composite's versatility in tackling different pollutants, positioning it as a promising material for water remediation.