Zn supported on hydroxyapatite encapsulated Fe₃O₄ (Fe₃O₄/HAp@Zn) nanocomposite for visible light driven photodegradation of ciprofloxacin antibiotics

Photocatalysis is one of the best possible ways to alleviate energy and environmental issues. The use of effective photocatalysts has drawn increased attention in wastewater treatment during the last few decades. Herein, a novel ternary photocatalyst, Fe₃O₄/HAp@Zn nanocomposites was synthesized using the hydrothermal method followed by ultrasonication. The synthetic process involved the decoration of Zn²⁺ onto the heterojunction of Fe₃O₄ with HAp matrix. Structural, optical, and morphological properties of the synthesized materials were investigated by PXRD, FT-IR, UV-DRS, XPS, FEG-SEM, SEM-EDS, and HR-TEM techniques. This newly developed nanocomposite demonstrates outstanding photocatalytic efficiency in degrading harmful pharmaceutical contaminants like ciprofloxacin in wastewater when exposed to natural sunlight. Compared to Fe₃O₄, pure HAp, and Fe₃O₄/HAp, the Fe₃O₄/HAp@Zn composite exhibited superior photocatalytic performance for ciprofloxacin degradation. Additionally, the study explored how various factors, including initial antibiotic concentration, and the amount of catalyst used, affect the rate at which the photocatalysis process occurs. The catalyst was also shown to be effective in terms of stability and recyclability. Based on the quenching experiments, a plausible mechanism of the degradation was also explained. Such new methods of treating pharmaceutically polluted wastewater utilizing solid-state catalysts are substantiated to be one of the key avenues for photocatalytic growth in the future.