Plant extract-mediated preparation of Mg/Al-layered double hydroxide heterogeneous photocatalyst for boosting ciprofloxacin removal under visible light

The release of fluoroquinolone antibiotics into aquatic ecosystems presents significant environmental hazards attributable to their toxic and persistent characteristics. This research investigates the improvement of photocatalytic properties of Mg/Al-layered double hydroxide (Mg/Al-LDH) through the incorporation of red dragon fruit peel extract (RDF), referred to as Mg/Al-RDF, to enhance its effectiveness in ciprofloxacin (CPX) degradation. Mg/Al-RDF has been successfully prepared using the co-precipitation method and characterized with FE-SEM-EDS, XRD, FTIR, BET, and UV-Vis DRS. The composite exhibits a remarkable efficiency in CPX degradation under visible light irradiation. Heterogeneous test indicated that leaching of active components of the Mg/Al-RDF into the solution does not play a significant role in CPX degradation. The outcome showed that Mg/Al-RDF demonstrated remarkable photocatalytic activity under optimal conditions (pH=5, irradiation time=30 min (dark), 90 min (visible light), catalyst dosages= 2.5 g/L, CPX initial concentration= 30 mg/L, regeneration cycle= 5x) with 91.96% (27.45 mg/L) and a rate constant of 0.028 min −1 . Experiments involving radical scavengers demonstrated that superoxide radicals play a critical part in the photocatalytic process, as evidenced by notable reductions in activity upon scavenging these radicals. These findings underscore the significant benefits of Mg/Al-RDF in the degradation of persistent fluoroquinolone antibiotic contaminants under visible light irradiation. • Red dragon fruit peel extract boosts Mg/Al-LDH’s effectiveness in CPX degradation. • Heterogeneous test confirms Mg/Al-RDF truly heterogeneous catalyst. • Mg/Al-RDF exhibits a rate constant of about 0.028 min −1 . • Mechanistic degradation revealed that •O 2 - serves as the primary reactive species. • Mg/Al-RDF demonstrated remarkable photocatalytic activity with 91.96% (27.45 mg/L).