Work

Hierarchical Fibrous HY Zeolite-Supported TiO2/CdS for Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Acetaminophen (ACE)

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The escalating pollution of aquatic ecosystems by pharmaceutical pollutants, notably acetaminophen (ACE), necessitates the advancement of sophisticated and effective remediation technologies. This study presents a direct Z-scheme TiO 2 /CdS photocatalyst supported on hierarchical fibrous HY zeolite (TiO 2 /CdS/FHY), synthesised via controlled electrolysis in a deep eutectic solvent followed by ultrasonic probe-assisted impregnation. The unique hierarchical fibrous HY-zeolite scaffold, characterized by an inherent meso–macroporous framework (81.5 m 2 /g) and demonstrated strong Ti–O–Si interfacial bonding, significantly enhanced nanostructure dispersion, facilitated charge separation, and suppressed electron-hole recombination, as evidenced by quenched photoluminescence. Optical characterization via UV–vis DRS revealed a red shift to 590 nm and a narrowed bandgap of 2.24 eV, enabling efficient visible-light harvesting. Under optimal conditions (10 wt% TiO 2 loading, pH 5, 1.5 g/L catalyst dosage, 10 mg/L ACE concentration), TiO 2 /CdS/FHY achieved 86.4% ACE-degradation efficiency and retained > 79% activity over five cycles, with FTIR confirming structural stability. Quenching and band-edge analyses identified (e – /·O 2 – ) and (·OH) radicals as the dominant oxidative species, corroborating a direct Z-scheme charge transfer pathway. This research highlights the significant potential of hierarchical fibrous HY zeolite supported TiO 2 /CdS nanostructures as an advanced support material for efficient photocatalytic degradation of emerging pharmaceutical contaminants.

Source: Journal of Cluster Science

DOI: 10.1007/s10876-026-02978-4

Authors: N. S. Kamarudin, M. N. Arifin, R. Jusoh

Institution: Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques

Subfield: Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

Field: Energy

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Clean water and sanitation

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,990