Photocatalytic degradation of ciprofloxacin using a novel carbohydrate-based nanocomposite from aqueous solutions

Pharmaceutical substances in the ecosystem pose a notable hazard to human and aquatic organism well-being. The occurrence of ciprofloxacin (CIP) within water sources or the food chain can perturb plant biochemical processes and induce drug resistance in both humans and animals. Therefore, effective removal is imperative prior to environmental discharge. This study introduces a Novel Carbohydrate-Based Nanocomposite (Fe3O4/MOF/AmCs-Alg) as a proficient photocatalytic agent for degrading CIP in aqueous solutions. The fabricated nanocomposite underwent characterization using FTIR, XRD, FESEM, DRS, and VSM techniques. The analyses conducted verified the successful synthesis of the Fe3O4/MOF/AmCs-Alg nanocomposite. Utilizing the optimized parameters (pH = 5, nanocomposite dose = 0.4 g/L, CIP concentration = 10 mg/L, light intensity = 75 mW/cm2, and a duration of 45min), the Fe3O4/MOF/AmCs-Alg/Vis nanocomposite demonstrated an impressive CIP degradation efficiency of 95.85%. Under optimal experiment conditions, CIP removal efficiency in tap water and treated wastewater samples was 91.27% and 76.78%, respectively. Furthermore, the total organic carbon (TOC) analysis indicated a mineralization rate of 51.21% for CIP. Trapping studies demonstrated that the superoxide radical (O2°−) had a notable contribution to the breakdown of CIP. In summary, the Fe3O4/MOF/AmCs-Alg/Vis system offers numerous benefits, encompassing effective degradation capabilities, effortless catalyst retrieval, and remarkable nanocomposite reusability.