Rathab Ali Ahmed - Department of Medical Engineering, AL-Nisour University College, Baghdad, Iraq
Ola Hamad Salah - Department of Medical Engineering Al-Manara College For Medical Sciences, Maysan, Iraq
Russul Reidh Abass - Al-Farahidi University, College of Medical Technology, Medical Lab. Techniques Department, Baghdad, Iraq
Manal Morad Karim - College of Pharmacy, National University of Science and Technology, Dhi Qar, Iraq
Shahad Abdulhadi Khuder - Department of Medical Engineering, Al-Hadi University College, Baghdad, ۱۰۰۱۱, Iraq
Salam Ahjel - Department of Pharmacy, Al-Zahrawi University College, Karbala, Iraq
Imad Ibrahim Dawood - Department of Medical Engineering, Mazaya University College, Nasiriyah, Dhi Qar, Iraq

Heterogeneous photocatalysts have been widely utilized for the degradation of pharmaceuticals in wastewater. Under UV light irradiation, photocatalysis of the Sulfadiazine Hydrochloride (SFD) drug in wastewater using Pd/ZnO nanocomposite was studied. The nanocomposite was prepared using a hydrothermal process. The incorporation of Pd nanoparticles into the ZnO nanostructure increased the porosity and surface area, as well as the number of functional and active sites of the nanocomposite, which can improve the photocatalytic process of drug removal. According to structural analyses using TEM and SEM, Pd/ZnO refers to a highly stable and architectural morphology. The photocatalytic degradation process revealed that after ۶۰ min, it led to the removal of the SFD drug, and a degradation efficiency of up to ۸۵.۷۷% was obtained using ZnO NPs, while the complete Pd/ZnO nanocomposite photocatalytic process was obtained after ۶۰ min, with a degradation efficiency of up to ۹۲.۲۵%. The high effectiveness of the prepared surface of the Pd/ZnO nanocomposite on the degradation of SFD drugs from aqueous solutions was confirmed, and the results showed the effective performance of the prepared photocatalyst in the removal of drugs. Likewise, reuse and regeneration have an important role to play in reducing the economic cost and secondary pollution, as the Pd/ZnO nanocomposite has a good ability to regenerate compared to zinc oxide, with a high percentage (۹۲.۲۵% to ۸۲.۸۷%) of four cycles.

Photocatalytic, Nanocomposite, Drug, Heterostructure, degradation efficiency