Evaluating the Efficiency of Photocatalytic Degradation in Tetracycline Removal: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Tetracycline (TC) is a widely used antibiotic in both human and veterinary medicine. However, its extensive use has led to the accumulation of TC in the environment, making it one of the most common and persistent environmental pollutants. The photocatalytic degradation of TC has been extensively studied over the past few decades using various photocatalysts. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the research conducted on the photocatalytic degradation of TC, highlighting its significance as an environmental pollutant and its impact on aquatic life, including plants and microbes in groundwater. Therefore, finding efficient methods to remove TC from water sources is crucial. Photocatalysis has emerged as a promising approach for TC degradation due to its ability to utilize light energy to generate reactive species that can oxidize and degrade organic pollutants. Several operating parameters significantly influence the photodegradation process including light wavelength, initial concentration of TC in solution, pH level, dissolved oxygen content, and presence of reactive species. To achieve maximum efficiency in the photocatalytic degradation of TC, these operating parameters need to be optimized.