ZIF-8/graphene composite for photocatalytic degradation under low intensity UV irradiation and antibacterial applications
Calvin Manasseh Manivel, Alvin Lim Teik Zheng, R. Kannan, S. Sivasangar, Taufiq Yap Yun Hin, Supakorn Boonyuen, Jacqueline Lease, Yoshito Andou, Kar Ban Tan
Abstract
In this study, we synthesized a ZIF-8/graphene (Gr) composite and evaluated its photocatalytic degradation performance toward levofloxacin (LVX) under low-intensity UV light. The composite exhibited improved charge separation and enhanced reactive oxygen species (·OH, ·O 2 − , h + ) generation compared to its individual components. Under optimal conditions (20 mg catalyst, 5 mg/L LVX, neutral pH), a 25.70% degradation was achieved after 120 min of irradiation, following pseudo-first-order (PFO) kinetics. While the degradation efficiency was modest, the catalyst operated effectively under low-energy conditions and demonstrated selective antibacterial activity against E. coli in dark conditions. These findings suggest that ZIF-8/Gr composites hold promise as dual-functional materials for pollutant mitigation and microbial control in niche wastewater applications, particularly where energy availability is limited. Further work is needed to enhance degradation efficiency and assess long-term operational stability.