Sunlight Driven Degradation of Drug Residues Using CuO Incorporated- Zeolite Supported- Graphitic Carbon Nitride

Abstract

Copper oxide nanoparticles incorporated-zeolite supported-graphitic carbon nitride (CuO/g–C₃N₄/Zeolite Y) catalyst was fabricated through a facile hydrothermal method, in which CuO nanoparticles were produced via precipitation. The synthesized CuO/g–C₃N₄/Zeolite Y was examined using characterization techniques such as FT-IR, XRD, XPS, TEM, SEM, EDX, TG, BET, DRS, and PL. BET analysis revealed that integrating zeolite and CuO has increased the surface area of graphitic carbon nitride. Increased separation efficiency and reduced recombination rates of photogenerated electrons and holes in CuO/g–C₃N₄/Zeolite Y were confirmed by photoluminescence studies. The CuO/g–C₃N₄/Zeolite Y catalyst exhibits enhanced efficiency for degrading MB and CV dyes compared to pristine g-C₃N₄ under sunlight exposure. The active species studies demonstrated that hydroxyl radicals, superoxide anion radicals and holes involve in the photocatalytic destruction of pollutants. Additionally, the CuO/g–C₃N₄/Zeolite Y composite efficiently degraded the antibiotic ceftazidime. Intermediates generated during the degradation process were identified, and plausible degradation pathways for ceftazidime were proposed through LC–MS analysis. This study implies that the synthesized catalyst can be used in the wastewater cleanup process to eliminate persistent organic contaminants and pharmaceutical pollutants under sunlight irradiation.

Graphical Abstract