Abstract
BACKGROUND: The pharmaceutical residues and their metabolites in water, even at low concentrations, is of concern due to their effects on the aquatic environment. OBJECTIVE: The current study aimed to investigate the photocatalytic degradation of paracetamol and cefixime trihydrate drugs from aqueous media using nanocomposites. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this experimental study, the photocatalytic degradation of paracetamol and cefixime trihydrate drugs have been investigated using Fe(2)O(3)-ZnO and Fe(2)O(3)-ZnO/Ag nanocomposites. XRD, FESEM, EDS, elemental mapping (e-mapping) and UV-Visible analysis were used to characterize the nanocomposites. RESULTS: The photocatalytic performance efficiency of Fe(2)O(3)-ZnO and Fe(2)O(3)-ZnO/Ag nanocomposites was 45% and 72%, respectively, for paracetamol in 180 min. However, the photocatalytic performance efficiency of Fe(2)O(3)-ZnO and Fe(2)O(3)-ZnO/Ag nanocomposites for the degradation of cefixime trihydrate was 38% and 55%, respectively during 60 min. CONCLUSION: Fe(2)O(3)-ZnO and Fe(2)O(3)-ZnO/Ag nanocomposites demonstrated effective photocatalytic performance in the removal of paracetamol and cefixime trihydrate drugs.