Emerging strategies in the sustainable removal of antibiotics using semiconductor-based photocatalysts

In the constantly growing field of environmental sustainability, the threat of newly discovered pollutants, particularly antibiotics, has become a crucial concern. The widespread presence of these pharmaceutical substances in water sources presents a complex hazard to human health and ecological balance, requiring immediate and novel intervention techniques. Regarding this, semiconductor-based photocatalysts have appeared as promising candidates, providing a sustainable and efficient way to remove antibiotics from aquatic ecosystems. Nanomaterials can effectively and precisely break down and neutralize antibiotic compounds with high efficiency and selectivity by utilizing a complex interaction between radical reactive oxygen species and non-radical equivalents under light irradiation. Although photocatalysts have certain drawbacks, such as a limited capacity to absorb light and concerns about catalytic stability, photocatalysis outperforms other advanced oxidation processes in multiple aspects. This study focuses on summarizing recent advances in the sustainable removal of antibiotics using semiconductor-based photocatalysts. By reviewing the latest studies and sustainable technologies, this study presents new insights into the complex relationship between contaminants and catalytic degradation processes. Compared to single and binary photocatalysts, modified ternary composites were found to have superior photodegradation performance under visible light exposure. To be specific g-C₃N₄-based ternary photocatalysts exhibited more than 90% degradation of tetracycline and sulfamethazine antibiotics within one hour of irradiation. This study addresses the antibiotic degradation efficiency during photocatalytic processes and suggests new approaches to improve the performance and scalability for wider use in real-world situations.