Synthesis and photocatalytic efficiency of novel ZnO-CBS-Ni complex for diclofenac sodium under irradiation of light

Abstract

The use of diclofenac sodium, a small molecular drug, is essential for treating inflammation in pharmacology. However, its extensive use can lead to environmental and water pollution. To address this issue, a new area of research involving nanomaterials and polymer-metal complexes for photo-degradation processes has emerged. As part of this research, we have developed nano-composites consisting of a biodegradable polymeric metal complex – a chitosan nickel metal complex coupled with a ZnO nanoparticle to eliminate the harmful effects of pharmaceutical residues in the environment is vital for achieving long-term sustainability and protecting natural resources. These nanocomposites have been successfully synthesized and analysed for their structure and optical properties using XRD, FT-IR, SEM, UV–visible, and band gap analysis techniques. The band gap value of the nano-composite falls within the semiconductor range. These synthesized nano-composites have been tested for the photo-degradation of diclofenac sodium in three different sources at various pH levels. The catalyst exhibited better activity in sunlight at acidic pH. We also explored the possible mechanism of photo-activity with the catalyst by combining the results of photo-degradation and the optical characterization of the nano-composite.