Residual pharmaceuticals can pose a threat to the aquatic ecosystem. Mg-Ni co-doped TiO₂ was prepared by wet impregnation, characterized by various methods, and used as a photocatalyst for degradation of the antibiotic ofloxacin (OFX) under solar irradiation, which has potential applications in water treatment and environmental remediation. The optimal conditions for OFX degradation were determined.

Abstract

This study focuses on the preparation and characterization of Mg-Ni co-doped TiO₂ and its application in the degradation of the pharmaceutical ofloxacin (OFX) under solar irradiation. A wet impregnation method was used to prepare Mg-Ni co-doped TiO₂. Characterization, optimization, and kinetic studies revealed that the doped TiO₂ material is effective in degrading OFX, with potential applications in water treatment or environmental remediation processes. Ultraviolet diffuse reflectance spectroscopy indicated that the band gap of TiO₂ was reduced due to doping with Mg and Ni. A reduced band gap can enhance the material's photocatalytic properties, which is important for its application in solar-driven degradation processes. The catalyst dose and OFX concentration for the degradation process were optimized. A catalyst dose of 2 g L⁻¹ and an OFX solution with a concentration of 40 ppm, maintained at pH 5, resulted in the highest degradation efficiency. The degradation process followed first-order kinetics, suggesting that the rate of degradation increased with increasing doping.