A research team at the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) has developed a photocatalyst that supports antibiotic removal from water using light. The same technology also produces hydrogen, a clean fuel.

The project combines efforts to address water pollution with the development of sustainable energy solutions. It is entitled “From Polluted Water to Clean Energy.”

In experiments, the catalyst removed more than 98 percent of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin within 90 minutes. LED lamps provided the visible light. Additionally, 88 percent of the antibiotic was converted into harmless products. The hydrogen production rate was five times that achieved using either of the catalyst’s constituent materials alone.

The project addresses the persistence of antibiotic residues in wastewater. It also considers their environmental impacts and their contribution to bacterial resistance to antibiotics. The aim is to harness light to break down these pollutants while using the same technology to produce hydrogen.

To achieve this, the team combined two materials: manganese dioxide and zinc indium sulfide. They then treated the surface of the manganese dioxide with phosphate. This treatment improved the catalyst’s response to light. It also enhanced its efficiency in pollutant removal and hydrogen production.

The catalyst works by using light to generate electrical charges that drive chemical reactions. However, these charges typically recombine rapidly, which reduces their effectiveness. The phosphate treatment helped keep them separated for longer. As a result, they could be used more efficiently to break down pollutants and produce clean fuel.

The findings open up opportunities to develop technologies that could eventually harness sunlight to treat polluted water and produce renewable energy. The experiments were conducted under visible-light lamps. They represent a research step towards broader applications that connect the protection of water resources with efforts to meet energy needs.

The research team comprised Prof. Mohammednoor Altarawneh and Dr. Ranjit Bariki from the College of Engineering at UAEU. Dr. Labeeb Ali from Abu Dhabi Polytechnic also took part. Mohammed Alkaabi, a PhD student at the College of Engineering at UAEU, worked under the supervision of Prof. Altarawneh.

Overall, the project reflects UAEU’s commitment to directing scientific research towards environmental challenges. It supports sustainability by connecting scientific knowledge with societal needs. By linking antibiotic removal with hydrogen production, the work shows how one technology can serve both goals.

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