Role of semiconductors (Zinc oxide as a model) for removal of pharmaceutical tetracycline (TCs) from aqueous solutions in the presence of selective light

Abstract

In this work treatment of drug in wastewater using Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticle as catalyst has been investigated. The effects of various parameters, such as the influence of initial drug concentration, time of irradiation, the effect of catalyst loading, he effect of intensity of light in order to reach to the optimum operational conditions in which the best treated of drug .The highest removal efficiency of drug was indicated at 0.2 gm/100cm3 mass of Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticle and 50 ppm of drug . photocatalytic degradation of drug was favorable in the 7.33 mW/cm2 light intensity. The percentage efficiency of removal drug equal 80. 388 %.The results explained the photocatalytic degradation efficiency, which was increased by increasing catalyst loading from 0.05 g to 3 g. The degradation efficiency decreased with the increase in catalyst loading. Results also showed that the rate of photocatalytic degradation was increased with decreasing drug concentration.