Al Ain:A research team at the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) has developed an innovative photocatalyst capable of using light to remove antibiotic residues from water while simultaneously producing hydrogen, a clean energy source.

According to Wam, the project, named 'From Polluted Water to Clean Energy,' demonstrated the removal of over 98 percent of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin within 90 minutes under visible light from LED lamps. Additionally, 88 percent of the antibiotic was converted into harmless byproducts, and the hydrogen production rate achieved was five times higher than using the catalyst's individual components alone.

The initiative tackles the persistence of antibiotic residues in wastewater and their environmental impact, including the contribution to bacterial resistance. It aims to utilize light to decompose these pollutants and produce hydrogen through the same process.

The research team combined manganese dioxide with zinc indium sulfide, treating the manganese dioxide's surface with phosphate to enhance the catalyst's light response and efficiency in removing pollutants and producing hydrogen. The catalyst functions by generating electrical charges from light to drive chemical reactions, with the phosphate treatment ensuring the charges remain separated long enough to be effective.

This breakthrough presents potential for developing technologies that could use sunlight to treat polluted water and generate renewable energy. The experiments conducted under visible-light lamps mark a step toward broader applications linking water resource protection with energy needs.

The research was conducted by Prof. Mohammednoor Altarawneh and Dr. Ranjit Bariki from UAEU's College of Engineering, in collaboration with Dr. Labeeb Ali from Abu Dhabi Polytechnic, and PhD student Mohammed Alkaabi under Prof. Altarawneh's supervision. This project underscores UAEU's dedication to addressing environmental challenges through scientific research and developing sustainable solutions.