Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of dyes and pharmaceutical pollutants using Fe/TiO_2-carbon nanospheres from Sutherlandia Frutescence

It is imperative to eliminate contaminants such as dyes and pharmaceuticals because they pose a threat to both humans and aquatic life owing to their carcinogenic and mutagenic properties. This study examined the effect of Fe and CSs on TiO₂ in relation to the degradation of Congo Red dye and pharmaceutical pollutants. FTIR, XRD, SEM, UV, and BET techniques were used to analyse the synthesised nanoparticles’ characteristics. The addition of Fe and CS led to a reduced bandgap and greatly enhanced the surface area of TiO₂. A 95% degradation of CR dye in 90 min, indicated a notable improvement in both time and efficiency for the dye’s degradation compared to blank TiO₂. Through reusability studies, the degradation efficiency was determined to be above 60% after the 3^rd cycle. Furthermore, it was shown that the species most accountable for the deterioration of Congo red dye were hydroxyl radicals. Lastly SMX and CIP pharmaceutical pollutants recorded a degradation of 85% and 76%, respectively. From this study, it can be noted that it is possible to synthesise recyclable, multifunctional and environmentally safe material which can be applied to the degradation of different types of pollutants.