Aulia Ajizah Triputri, Khoiriah, Fitri Khoerunnisa, Asmida Herawati, Reza Audina Putri, Vivi Sisca, Ary Muliva Hada Putri, Romy Dwipa Yamessa Away, James Sibarani, Safni Safni
Paracetamol is frequently detected in aquatic environments due to its extensive consumption and improper disposal, posing significant ecological risks and remaining insufficiently removed by conventional wastewater treatment processes. Although TiO2-based photocatalysis is effective for degrading organic contaminants, its wide band gap and severe nanoparticle aggregation limit its practical application, which restricts light utilization and photocatalytic efficiency. To address these limitations, a TiO2/Biochar nanocomposite was synthesized via a green sol-gel method using red dragon fruit peel (Hylocereus polyrhizus) as a sustainable biochar precursor and natural capping agent. The synthesized materials were characterized using XRD, FTIR, UV-Vis DRS, FESEM, particle size analysis, BET N2 adsorption at 77 K, and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The photocatalytic degradation of paracetamol was evaluated under UV-C irradiation. The optimal TiO2/Biochar nanocomposite was obtained at a TiO2:Biochar mass ratio of 11:1 and exhibited a reduced crystallite size, narrowed band gap, smaller particle size, and increased specific surface area compared with pristine TiO2. The PL analysis revealed a red shift and additional trap states, indicating enhanced charge separation efficiency. Consequently, the TiO2/Biochar nanocomposite demonstrated superior photocatalytic performance, good stability over four consecutive cycles, and enhanced mineralization efficiency, achieving a total organic carbon (TOC) removal of 74.63%. Scavenger experiments confirmed that hydroxyl radicals (•OH) were the dominant reactive species responsible for paracetamol degradation. This study demonstrates an eco-friendly and sustainable strategy for pharmaceutical wastewater treatment while promoting biomass waste valorization. © 2026 Elsevier Ltd. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Science Education, Indonesia University of Education, Bandung, 40154, Indonesia; Research Center for Catalysis, National Research and Innovation Agency, Building 452 BJ Habibie Science and Technology Area, South Tangerang, 15314, Indonesia; Research Center for Photonics, National Research and Innovation Agency, Buildings 440-442 BJ Habibie Science and Technology Area, South Tangerang, 15314, Indonesia; Research Center for Molecular Chemistry, National Research and Innovation Agency, Buildings 440-442 BJ Habibie Science and Technology Area, South Tangerang, 15314, Indonesia; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Padang State University, Jakarta, Indonesia; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Udayana University, Bali, 80361, Indonesia; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Andalas University, Limau Manis, West Sumatera, Padang, 25163, Indonesia
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