Photocatalytic degradation of ampicillin antibiotics in aqueous solution utilizing ZnFe2O4/MWCNTs/TiO2 ternary nanocomposite under solar light irradiation

In this study, a novel photocatalyst composed of zinc ferrite (ZnFe₂O₄), titanium dioxide (TiO₂), and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was successfully synthesized via the hydrothermal method, and evaluated for the degradation of ampicillin (AMP) in aqueous solutions. The synthesized nanocomposites were thoroughly characterized using various analytical techniques, including XRD, HR-SEM, HR-TEM, EDX, UV-Vis, FT-IR, BET, and XPS analysis. Crystallite sizes of 24.18 nm for ZnFe₂O₄ and 17.8 nm for TiO₂ were determined. The composite exhibited a band gap of 1.4 eV, indicating its enhanced photocatalytic activity. The photocatalytic performance was assessed under varying conditions, including different nanocomposite dosages (0.3–1 g/L), AMP concentrations (10–50 mg/L), and pH values (2–12). The optimal AMP degradation efficiency of 99.2 % was achieved using 0.7 g/L of the photocatalyst, 10 mg/L of AMP, and a pH of 12 under 90 min of solar irradiation. These optimal parameters were then applied to evaluate AMP degradation using ZnFe₂O₄, TiO₂, and ZnFe₂O₄/MWCNTs individually, with the degradation rate analyzed using a pseudo-first-order model. The superior photocatalytic efficiency can be primarily attributed to improved charge transfer dynamics and effective electron-hole separation, enabled by the doping of MWCNTs. Hydroxyl radicals (OH^•) were identified as the primary reactive species responsible for AMP degradation. Furthermore, the catalyst retained 91 % of its photocatalytic efficiency after eight consecutive cycles, demonstrating excellent stability and reusability. These results underscore the potential of the ZnFe₂O₄/MWCNTs/TiO₂ composite as a highly effective and sustainable photocatalyst for removing pharmaceutical pollutants from aquatic environments.