Sustainable solvent-engineered carbon dots derived from Amaranthus campestris for photocatalytic antiretroviral drug degradation and luminophores in security inks for anti-counterfeit applications

Environmental issues are raised by the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor medicine emtricitabine (ETB), especially associated with its poor removal efficiency in traditional wastewater treatment facilities. Photocatalytic degradation presents itself as a promising technology for the breakdown of organic pharmaceuticals through the advanced oxidation process. This study explores the application of Eco-Sustainable Amaranthus campestris-derived Carbon dots (AC-CDs) as a light-activated photocatalyst for the abatement of antiretroviral ETB, emphasizing a more resilient and environmentally conscious approach. The specifically selected carbogenic source for the induction of AC-CDs formation is Amaranthus campestris, which exhibits adjustable luminescence upon exposure to both short and long UV light irradiation. The synthesized AC-CDs, exhibiting a quantum yield of 21.5 %, served as security fluorescent ink for anti-counterfeiting purposes. An efficiency of 55 % was achieved for the photocatalytic degradation of ETB within 75 min under optimal conditions. The kinetic behavior of the degradation adhered to a pseudo-first-order reaction, characterized by a rate constant of 0.01029 min⁻¹. The findings from the scavenger studies indicate that hydroxyl radicals and the holes significantly contribute to the reduction of the drug. This study demonstrates that Eco-Sustainable-derived AC-CDs offer a viable and alternative approach for the reduction of ETBs in aqueous environments, with potential implications for wider applications in wastewater management and in anti-counterfeiting applications.