A pectin/chitosan/zinc oxide nanocomposite for adsorption/photocatalytic remediation of carbamazepine in water samples

The present study investigates a synergistic adsorption/photodegradation technique catalyzed by a pectin/chitosan/zinc oxide (Pec/CS/ZnO) nanocomposite for the removal of carbamazepine (CBZ) in aqueous solutions under direct sunlight. The Pec/CS/ZnO nanocomposite was prepared by an inotropic gelation method and was characterized using different techniques. The adsorption/photocatalytic activity of the Pec/CS/ZnO nanocomposite for the remediation of CBZ was optimized using Box–Behnken design under response surface methodology. The examined parameters included the amount of Pec/CS/ZnO nanocomposite (0.25–0.75 g L(−1)), pH (4–10), and run time for adsorption/photo-irradiation (1–5 hours). The efficiency of CBZ degradation was calculated in terms of changes in CBZ concentration using a validated chromatographic assay. The optimum conditions for the remediation of CBZ were 0.5 g L(−1) Pec/CS/ZnO nanocomposite, pH 4, and 3 hour run time. Under such conditions, the degradation efficiency of 10 mg L(−1) CBZ was found to be 69.5% with a rate constant (k) of 0.00737 min(−1) and half-life time of 94 min. The efficiency of the Pec/CS/ZnO nanocomposite for CBZ remediation was found to be stable and consistent after three cycles of reuse. The presence of other pharmaceutical contaminants such as acetaminophen in wastewater samples was also investigated. The efficiency of CBZ degradation was not significantly affected by the addition of acetaminophen in a 0–15 mg L(−1) concentration range which confirmed the selectivity and efficiency of the proposed method for CBZ degradation and removal.