Atividade fotocatalítica das heteroestruturas de g-C3N4:NB2O5 na degradação de fármacos

Abstract

In recent years, the frequent detection of emerging contaminants in aquatic matrices has raised concerns, as these substances are difficult to remove and may pose various risks to human health and aquatic life, since there is no effective control over them. These pollutants belong to different classes, such as industrial residues, personal care products, and chemical compounds, with pharmaceuticals standing out—such as fluoxetine (FLX), an antidepressant used worldwide—which has been detected in water and wastewater treatment plants. These facilities were not designed for the efficient removal of such compounds, resulting in their persistence in water even after conventional treatments.Thus, the development of techniques for the removal of these contaminants has become necessary, and Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) are an example. This is a sustainable and effective method for removing these substances, as hotocatalysis generates free radicals, such as hydroxyl radicals (•OH), which promote the degradation of pollutants, transforming them into less toxic and simpler species, such as carbon dioxide, water, or other easily removable compounds. The development of photocatalysts using low-cost materials and visible radiation is a way to make this technique more accessible and promising. Therefore, the objective of this work was to evaluate, through the literature, the degradation of FLX by heterogeneous photocatalysis using a heterostructure of carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) and niobium pentoxide (Nb₂O₅), which can be synthesized by a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method, with both materials being abundant and low-cost. The results obtained from the studies reviewed in the literature showed that the method was efficient for the degradation of the pharmaceutical and, consequently, for its removal from wastewater, indicating the possibility of application in the treatment of effluents contaminated with medications. In view of this, the importance of monitoring emerging contaminants and their effects is evident, as well as the need for environmental remediation alternatives aimed at preserving the environment.