Enhancement in photocatalytic activity of NiO by supporting onto an Iranian clinoptilolite nano-particles of aqueous solution of cefuroxime pharmaceutical capsule

• NiO supported on clinoptilolite acts as an active center for degrading cefuroxime.
• Extent of NiO loaded significantly affects on the efficiency of process.
• Results of HPLC confirm the results of degradation by UV–Vis.

NiO/nano-clinoptilolite (NiO–NCP) was prepared by ion exchanging process of the prepared ball-mill nano-clinoptilolite particles with nickel(II) chloride aqueous solution. The prepared composite was characterized by XRD, UV–Vis DRS, TEM and FT-IR and then used as a catalyst in the photodegradation of cefuroxime (CF) using Hg lamp. The best experimental parameters were obtained as: 0.025 g L−1 of the photocatalyst containing 13.3% NiO, 50 times diluted cefuroxime solution at pH 5. The degradation extent was monitored by UV–Vis spectroscopy and the results were confirmed by HPLC and COD. The kinetics of the photodegradation process obeyed the Langmuir–Hinshelwood model.

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