Organic photocatalysts for wastewater decontamination

Abstract

Antibiotic contamination in wastewater has become a concern increasingly due to its potential impact on human health and ecosystems. Conventional wastewater treatment methods often fail to remove antibiotics adequately, primarily due to the high chemical stability of these organic compounds and the complexity of wastewater environments. This review summarizes recent progress in the use of organic semiconductor photocatalysts for the degradation of antibiotics in wastewater. We provide a critical analysis of various organic semiconductor materials and their photocatalytic performances, emphasizing their efficiencies under different conditions and the mechanisms of antibiotic degradation. The findings suggest that these organic semiconductor materials have the potential to achieve high degradation rates, low energy consumption, and efficient removal of antibiotic pollutants in aquatic environments. This review emphasizes the importance of developing advanced photocatalytic methods as sustainable solutions for antibiotic contamination and underscores the role of organic supramolecular photocatalysts in improving wastewater treatment processes. Finally, we outline the future development trends and prospects of organic semiconductor photocatalytic materials for removing pollutants from livestock wastewater.