The current study examined the effect of metal oxide catalysts on the sorption and photocatalytic efficiencies for the removal of ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin in water. ZnO and TiO2 catalysts are prepared using a suitable method based on the sol-gel process, which have a great change in structural and textural properties. The structure and surface area of the synthesized catalysts were characterized, and used as sorbents/catalysts to remove antibiotics from water. Results showed a high adsorption capacity for the Titania oxide related to its great surface area, it is about 280 m2 g-1, compared to that of ZnO catalyst with only 19 m2 g-1. However, both photocatalysts exhibit a difference in photocatalytic activity versus both drugs. Therefore, ZnO, as a competitor catalyst for the TiO2, provides the most effective treatment of contaminated water with antibiotic pollutants to produce suitable reused water. پرونده مقاله

Porous ZnO-hydroxyapatite nanocomposite was prepared by dissolution of a rock phosphate ore in an acidic medium followed by alkaline precipitation. Its photocatalytic activity was assessed for the degradation of paracetamol as one of the most commonly prescribed pharmaceutical drugs and methylene blue as dye model. Thanks to its good porosity, the 40ZnHAp nanocomposite adsorbed the selected pollutants better than the individual ZnO and HAp phases. 40ZnHAp calcined at 500° completely degrades the studied pollutants faster than ZnO, although a longer illumination time is required for the degradation of paracetamol. The low-cost 40ZnHAp nanomaterial can be considered as a potential photocatalyst for wastewater treatment due to its high porosity, which facilitates the entrapment of initial pollutants and/or by-products. It leads to a complete mineralization, consequently yielding healthy discharged water. پرونده مقاله