Effect of temperature on the rate of reaction of MnWO4 for drug degradation

Abstract

The growing concern of drug pollution in water bodies, particularly the presence of pharmaceutical drugs like Diclofenac (DF), has prompted the emergence of photocatalytic degradation as a promising solution, driving the need for efficient photocatalysts to mitigate potential risks to aquatic ecosystems and human health. In this study, the influence of temperature on the degradation of DF (name of the drug) using MnWO₄ (manganese tungstate) as a photocatalyst is investigated. The precise co-precipitation method was used to synthesize MnWO₄, which was subsequently calcined at different temperatures ranging from 500 °C to 900 °C. The physicochemical properties of synthesized materials were investigated by various analytical and spectrocopical techniques. Significantly, MnWO₄ calcinated at 800 °C demonstrated exceptional photocatalytic performance, achieving a degradation rate exceeding 98% for DF under visible-light illumination. This superior activity can be attributed to factors such as excellent crystallinity, a well-defined morphology, a superior optical band gap for effective utilization of visible light, and reduced particle size compared to other MnWO₄ materials. This work paves valuable insights into the temperature-dependent synthesis and properties of MnWO₄ as a photocatalyst for DF degradation. The exceptional photocatalytic performance observed at 800 °C highlights the potential of MnWO₄ as an efficient and environmentally friendly material for drug decomposition under visible-light conditions.