Enhanced LED light driven photocatalytic degradation of Cefdinir using bismuth titanate nanoparticles

Photodegradation of antibiotics using visible light represents a promising approach for efficiently removing antibiotic contaminants from water sources. This study investigated bismuth titanate (Bi4Ti3O12) nanoparticles for the photodegradation of Cefdinir (CEF), a third-generation cephalosporin, under visible LED irradiation. Bismuth titanate nanoparticles were synthesized and characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). Factors affecting the degradation protocol were optimized using a central composite design model, and the degradation efficiency was assessed using a validated RP-HPLC method. Results of the experimental design demonstrated that bismuth titanate nanoparticles exhibited high photocatalytic performance (⁓ 98% photodegradation), which was found in an optimum condition of 0.05 g/L of BIT-NP in pH 5 for 50 µg/mL of CEF in 1 h at room temperature. The degradation efficiency depended on the concentration of the nanoparticles, the initial concentration of CEF, and pH. The antimicrobial effect of CEF was assessed before and after the degradation process, and the loss of antibiotic activity was observed after treatment. The findings provide valuable insights into developing innovative photocatalytic materials for the economic remediation of antibiotic-contaminated water sources using eco-friendly LED sources for degradation under visible light for the first time. This would offer a promising solution to mitigate the environmental impact of antibiotic residues.