Photocatalytic degradation of acetaminophen and codeine medicines using a novel zeolite-supported TiO2 and ZnO under UV and sunlight irradiation

Authors

Samira Behravesh, Nourollah Mirghaffari, Ali Akbar Alemrajabi, Fatemeh Davar, Mohsen Soleimani

Publication date

2020/5/8

Journal

Environmental science and pollution research international

Description

Pharmaceutical compounds are considered as emerging contaminants in the aquatic environments that are not easily eliminated by conventional treatment processes. In the present study, the photocatalytic oxidation of acetaminophen and codeine medicines under UV and solar irradiation was investigated in the aqueous solutions using a novel synthesized zeolite from stone cutting sludge as a support for TiO2 and ZnO. The effect of photocatalyst synthesis conditions including catalyst dose, mixing time, calcination time, and temperature on the efficiency of the pharmaceutical removal were optimized using Taguchi process optimization method. The prepared photocatalysts were characterized using X-ray diffractometer, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray, the BET surface area, and the Fourier transformation infrared. The results indicated that the performance of ZnO-zeolite for the …