Efficient photocatalytic degradation of acetaminophen using cobalt-doped ZnFe2O4 spinel as a promising solution for pharmaceutical wastewater treatment

The removal of pharmaceutical compounds from wastewater through photocatalytic oxidation offers an appealing and eco-friendly solution. These methods are highly effective for eliminating toxic organic pollutants and pharmaceuticals. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) utilizing efficient photocatalysts are crucial for tackling harmful contaminants. This report presents an environmentally friendly method for synthesizing a highly efficient catalyst: pure ZnFe2O4 (ZC0) and 20wt% cobalt-doped ZnFe2O4 (ZC20) microspheres, produced via hydrothermal synthesis. These microspheres were tested for their ability to degrade acetaminophen, a common pharmaceutical contaminant. The combination of ZnFe2O4 and cobalt enhances surface interactions, preventing electron–hole recombination and boosting photocatalytic performance. ZC20 achieved an impressive 85% degradation of acetaminophen in 180 min, significantly outperforming ZC0 with 35%. Additionally, the efficiency of ZC20 under a 100 W LED lamp was approximately 1.5 times higher than the efficiency observed with a 50 W LED lamp. This study evaluates the photocatalytic activity for various acetaminophen and ZC20 concentrations and discusses the photocatalytic mechanisms.