DOI: https://doi.org/10.55373/mjchem.v27i4.1

Keywords: Levofloxacin; photocatalysis; TiO2 nanomaterial; antibiotic residues; water treatment

Abstract

This study investigated TiO₂-based photocatalysts for degrading levofloxacin (LEVO), addressing the environmental and health risks posed by antibiotic residues in water. Various TiO₂-based materials were examined: commercial TiO₂ (P25, Degussa, Germany), TiO₂/ZnO (hydrothermal synthesis), as well as Pd-, Pt-, and Ag-doped TiO₂ (sol-gel synthesis). Optimal conditions included pH 4, a 1:20 LEVO-to-photocatalyst ratio, and 150 minutes. P25 achieved the highest efficiency (85 %) within 180 minutes, outperforming synthesized catalysts at shorter durations. Sol-gel-derived catalysts demonstrated better performance for extended reaction times, achieving 69.36 % efficiency after 150 minutes, while TiO₂/ZnO reached 14.03 %. Treatment efficiency decreased at higher pH levels, dropping to 2.81 % at pH 9. The Langmuir-Hinshelwood model (R2 = 0.9862) described the reaction mechanism effectively. This study highlights TiO₂-based photocatalysis as a viable solution for antibiotic removal, with P25 identified as the most effective catalyst for shorter reactions while sol-gel catalysts excelled at longer durations.