Visible-Light-Responsive ZnO/Ag-Based Ternary Heterojunction Photocatalyst Embedded in Polymeric Membranes for Enhanced Ibuprofen Degradation

Abstract The growing global concern over pharmaceutical pollution highlights the urgent need for advanced water treatment strategies. One significant issue is the removal of Ibuprofen (IBF), a pharmaceutical compound and emerging organic pollutant, which current water treatment methods struggle to eliminate effectively. This study presents an approach that combines membrane technology with advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) through the fabrication and assessment of a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane integrated with a visible-light-driven ternary heterojunction of ZnO/Ag 2 CO 3 /Ag 2 O nanocomposites. Characterization results reveal a significant enhancement in the hydrophilicity of the modified membranes, which is ascribed to the presence of hydroxyl groups within the ZnO/Ag 2 CO 3 /Ag 2 O structure. The membranes showed increased surface roughness and structural changes, which led to higher porosity as the nanocomposite content increased. This enhancement facilitated the entrapment of IBF on the membrane surface, improving photosorption and enhancing the photocatalytic process. Under visible-light irradiation, the membrane achieved 87.92% IBF degradation within 600 min at a 1.96 wt% nanocomposite loading, demonstrating exceptional photocatalytic activity. Remarkably, the membrane maintained its performance over three consecutive cycles without requiring regeneration, showcasing its reusability. The proposed degradation pathway suggests that IBF undergoes photodegradation via hydroxylation and multiple methylation processes, ultimately leading to the mineralization of the IBF compounds. These findings show that the integration of ZnO/Ag 2 CO 3 /Ag 2 O in PVDF composite membranes could represent a significant advancement in mitigating emerging organic compound pollution in aquatic environments, offering promising potential for sustainable water treatment practices.