Photoelectrochemical Degradation of Pharmaceutical Active Compounds in Multicomponent Solutions with an Sb-Doped SnO2 Ceramic Anode Coated with BiPO4

A ceramic anode made of Sb-doped SnO2 and coated with a photoactive BiPO4 layer was tested for the (photo)electrochemical oxidation of three commonly used pharmaceuticals: atenolol, ibuprofen, and norfloxacin. Light-pulsed chronoamperometry showed that the photoanode responded immediately to illumination. The application of light and current enhanced degradation for all compounds when treated separately. Ibuprofen and norfloxacin exhibited higher degradation than mineralization, which demonstrates their persistent nature. Electric current was essential to achieve efficient degradation and mineralization, demonstrating the effectiveness of the electrochemical approach. For multicomponent mixtures, applying light resulted in higher mineralization compared to dark conditions at low operation currents (0.2 A). At higher currents (0.4–0.8 A), the contribution of light was partially masked by the enhanced electrochemical production of hydroxyl radicals. The analysis of individual compounds within the mixture revealed significant improvements in degradation under light exposure. Overall, these results demonstrate the potential of the Sb-doped SnO2 ceramic photoanode as a cost-effective and promising alternative to commercial materials for treating pharmaceutical contaminants.