Materiais à base de ZnO na degradação fotocatalítica de antibióticos: uma revisão sobre fundamentos e aplicações

Abstract

The increasing presence of antibiotics in aquatic environments has raised growing concern due to their environmental persistence, ecotoxicological potential, and contribution to the spread of antimicrobial resistance. Conventional water and wastewater treatment processes often exhibit limited efficiency in removing these compounds, allowing their continuous release into the environment. In this context, Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOP) have emerged as promising alternatives because of their ability to generate reactive species capable of degrading persistent organic contaminants. Among these technologies, heterogeneous photocatalysis has attracted considerable attention due to its high degradation efficiency and potential application in water treatment. Among the semiconductors employed in this process, zinc oxide (ZnO) stands out because of its combination of favorable properties, including photocatalytic activity, chemical stability, and low cost compared with other semiconductor materials. The present study aimed to review the literature on the application of ZnO-based materials for the photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics in aqueous media. The main aspects addressed include the occurrence of these contaminants in the environment, the limitations of conventional treatment methods, the fundamentals of AOP and heterogeneous photocatalysis, as well as the structural, morphological, and optical properties of ZnO associated with its photocatalytic performance. Strategies for improving the material, including doping and heterojunction formation, were also discussed to enhance its photocatalytic efficiency. The reviewed studies demonstrate that ZnO-based materials show significant potential for the degradation of different classes of antibiotics, achieving high removal efficiencies when properly modified and applied under suitable operating conditions. Therefore, ZnO and its composites represent promising alternatives for the development of sustainable technologies aimed at the treatment of water contaminated with emerging contaminants.