Synthesis of Zinc-reinforced Carbon Nanotubes for Degradation of Erythromycin Antibiotic

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Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran

Abstract

The growth of urban communities, the expansion of industrial activities, and the adverse effects of human activities on limited water resources have endangered the lives of humans and other living organisms. In recent years, in addition to common pollutants introduced into nature by humans, emerging pollutants have also appeared as a serious challenge. Among these pollutants are pharmaceutical residues. The presence of these types of pollutants and their increasing quantities, given the inability of conventional purification methods to decompose them, has led researchers to focus their attention on new and efficient methods. Therefore, this research aimed to remove the pharmaceutical pollutant erythromycin from aquatic environments using zinc-reinforced carbon nanotubes. The properties of these carbon nanotubes were determined by FESEM, VSM, FTIR, and XRD analyses. A pH of 3 and a catalyst dose of 0.075 g/L with a concentration of 10 mg/L for 60 minutes were the optimal parameters obtained in the experimental process. The fabricated photocatalyst was investigated in contact with the pollutant erythromycin at different concentrations and at different times in the presence of UVC light, and the results of the photodegradation tests showed the remarkable performance of zinc-reinforced carbon nanotubes in eliminating Erythromycin by 94%. Also, at a concentration of 10 mg/L of Erythromycin, after 4 consecutive cycles, the degradation efficiency of this zinc-reinforced carbon nanotube was 70%. Therefore, the use of this photocatalyst can be suggested as a useful method with acceptable efficiency for removing antibiotics from wastewater.

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Main Subjects

Sustainable Earth Trends

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 20 June 2025

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