Optimization of Photocatalytic Degradation of Cephalexin Drug Contaminant from Aqueous Solutions by Synthesized Zn-MOC Nanostructures Using Response Surface Methodology

Medicinal sewages are considered as one of the most dangerous sewages due to their effects on human health and the environment. The aim of the present study was to investigate the photodegradation of cephalexin contaminants in aqueous solutions using synthetic photocatalyst nanostructure.

In this study, a new metal-organic compound (Zn-MOC) synthesized by the synthetic sonocyte (4-cyanophenyl) porphyrin synthetic ligand (nanostructure) was used to optically degrade cephalexin. All parameters affecting the degradation efficiency of pollutants, including pH, irradiation time, amount of photocatalyst, and cephalexin concentration, are investigated and optimized using the central cube design (CCD) method, which is one of the response surface methods (RSM).  

Zn-based synthetic photocatalyst nanostructure (Zn-MOC) showed very high efficiency (94.20%) in the degradation of cephalexin in the presence of visible light.

The synthetic photocatalyst used in this study showed high efficiency in a shorter time. Also, the optimal parameter values affecting the photodegradation process of cephalexin were observed by Zn-MOC at pH=4 the amount of photocatalyst was 0.90 g/l, the irradiation time was 45 minutes and the contaminant concentration was 4.80 mg /l.