Photocatalytic Degradation of Amoxicillin Using ZnO Derived from ZIF‐8 Nanosheets

Abstract In this study, ultraviolet (UV) light assisted photocatalytic degradation was explored as an effective approach for the removal of amoxicillin from aqueous media. Zeolitic imidazolate framework‐8 (ZIF‐8) was synthesized via a solvothermal method and subsequently calcined at 750 °C to produce zinc oxide (ZnO‐Z). The synthesized materials were characterized using various physicochemical techniques to confirm hexagonal wurtzite phase. Photocatalytic experiments were conducted in a UV reactor using ZnO‐Z as the catalyst. Key operational parameters such as initial amoxicillin concentration, catalyst dosage, and pH were optimized, achieving a maximum degradation efficiency of 77.02% at a catalyst dosage of 10 mg, pH of 9, and an initial amoxicillin concentration of 5 ppm within 180 min. Kinetic analysis revealed that the degradation followed pseudo‐first‐order kinetics, with a rate constant of 0.0191 min −1 . Additionally, chemical oxygen demand (COD) measurements indicated a progressive reduction, confirming mineralization of the pollutant. These results demonstrate that ZnO‐Z is a promising photocatalyst for the effective degradation of amoxicillin under UV irradiation.