Journal of Advances in Environmental Health Research

Journal of Advances in Environmental Health Research

Cadmium Sulfide-Modified Carbon Nitride/Graphite for Photocatalytic Removal of Sulfamethoxazole From Aqueous Solutions

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Ali Esrafily 1, 2
Hossein Pasavand 3
Mehdi Safari 4
Majid Kermani 1, 2
1 Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2 Research Center for Environmental Health Technology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3 Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
4 Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Kurdistan, Iran
10.34172/jaehr.1392
Abstract
Background: Sulfamethoxazole  (SMX), a sulfonamide antibiotic, is frequently detected at high concentrations in surface and drinking water, indicating widespread contamination.
Methods: In this experimental study, a graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4)/cadmium sulfide (CdS) nano-composite was synthesized using a co-precipitation method. The crystal structure, morphology, and surface chemistry of the synthesized nanocomposite were characterized using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), respectively. The Experiments were conducted under varying conditions, including pH (3–11), nanocatalyst dosage (0.2–1 g/L), contact time (0–120 minutes), and initial SMX concentration (5–20 mg/L).
Results: XRD and SEM analyses confirmed the hexagonal structure of CdS, with SEM images showing well-dispersed nanoparticles and no agglomeration. The distinct peaks in the XRD pattern indicated well-crystallized CdS nanoparticles. Optimal removal efficiency was achieved at pH 5, with a nanocatalyst dosage of 0.7 g/L, a contact time of 60 minutes, and an SMX concentration of 5 mg/L. Kinetic studies revealed that the photocatalytic degradation followed first-order kinetics (R2 = 0.9955).
Conclusion: Based on the results and the physical and chemical properties of the synthesized CdS-modified carbon nitride nanocomposite, this photocatalytic process offers a promising, effective, and efficient method for the treatment of antibiotic-contaminated wastewater, particularly for removing SMX.
Keywords
Sulfamethoxazole
Photocatalyst
Cadmium sulfide
Carbon nitrite graphite
Purification

Subjects

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Journal of Advances in Environmental Health Research
Volume 13, Issue 3
Summer 2025
Pages 183-190