Improved Photocatalytic Degradation of Pharmaceutical Compounds from Aqueous Solutions Using Pd/Zno Nanocomposite as a Model of Environmental Applications

Heterogeneous photocatalysts have been widely utilized for the degradation of pharmaceuticals in wastewater. Under UV light irradiation, photocatalysis of the Sulfadiazine Hydrochloride (SFD) drug in wastewater using Pd/ZnO nanocomposite was studied. The nanocomposite was prepared using a hydrothermal process. The incorporation of Pd nanoparticles into the ZnO nanostructure increased the porosity and surface area, as well as the number of functional and active sites of the nanocomposite, which can improve the photocatalytic process of drug removal. According to structural analyses using TEM and SEM, Pd/ZnO refers to a highly stable and architectural morphology. The photocatalytic degradation process revealed that after 60 min, it led to the removal of the SFD drug, and a degradation efficiency of up to 85.77% was obtained using ZnO NPs, while the complete Pd/ZnO nanocomposite photocatalytic process was obtained after 60 min, with a degradation efficiency of up to 92.25%. The high effectiveness of the prepared surface of the Pd/ZnO nanocomposite on the degradation of SFD drugs from aqueous solutions was confirmed, and the results showed the effective performance of the prepared photocatalyst in the removal of drugs. Likewise, reuse and regeneration have an important role to play in reducing the economic cost and secondary pollution, as the Pd/ZnO nanocomposite has a good ability to regenerate compared to zinc oxide, with a high percentage (92.25% to 82.87%) of four cycles.