Waste-to-energy insight: Coupled photocatalytic amoxicillin degradation and hydrogen evolution with NiFe-LDH

In this study, a nickel–iron layered double hydroxide (NiFe-LDH) photocatalyst was synthesized via a co-precipitation method and applied for the simultaneous degradation of amoxicillin (AMX) and hydrogen (H2) generation under visible light irradiation. NiFe-LDH was characterized by SEM, FTIR, XRD, and BET analyses, confirming its layered structure, homogeneous elemental distribution, and a specific surface area of 7.56 m2/g. The photocatalytic performance of NiFe-LDH was systematically evaluated by varying solution pH, catalyst loading, and initial AMX concentration. The optimal AMX degradation (~90%) and hydrogen evolution (58.2 μmol) were achieved at pH 7 with a catalyst loading of 2 g/L and an initial AMX concentration of 5 ppm. Total organic carbon (TOC) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiencies reached 65.8% and 84.9%, respectively, under these conditions. The results demonstrate that NiFe-LDH exhibits a promising dual functionality in pollutant mineralization and clean energy production, offering a sustainable waste-to-energy pathway for water treatment applications.