Recycling electroplating sludge as an efficient photocatalyst for degradation of ciprofloxacin in aqueous solution

This study explored the potential of electroplating sludge (ESs) as a novel and effective photocatalyst for the photodegradation of ciprofloxacin in aqueous solutions. The characterization of the ESs was evaluated using sophisticated techniques, such as XRD, SEM, TEM, EDX, FTIR, and BET. ESs-derived photocatalyst materials were found to primarily consist of various metal oxides (Ni-O, Cu-O), which can absorb ultraviolet or visible light. The effectiveness of photodegradation was assessed by measuring the decomposition of Ciprofloxacin (CIP) in aqueous solutions. The results showed that after 180 minutes of UVA illumination, a remarkable photodegradation effectiveness of 93.87% was achieved for a CIP concentration of 10 mg L−1, pH = 9, catalyst dose of 1.0 g/L indicating ESs as an effective method for removing CIP from wastewater. The effect of other factors, such as other antibiotics, dyes, and phenol, were also carried out to illustrate high dominant capacity in the degradation of organic compounds. The radical scavenger demonstrated that h+ and O2●− are the main species for the degradation of CIP. This research presents an adaptable, scalable framework for sustainable electroplating sludge reuse. The easily implementable method promises widespread adoption, enhancing sustainability and resource efficiency by repurposing the treated waste as a photocatalyst for antibiotic degradation.