Photocatalytic treatment of produced wateroverZnO-CuO/Commercial activated carbon(CAC).

Abstract

This study focuses on the photocatalytic treatment of real industrial wastewater using binary metal oxides ZnOand CuO supported on activated carbon (both commercial and reactivated). The objective is to evaluate the effect of catalyst composition and treatment time on the degradation of pollutants. Three different weight ratios ZnO–CuO (3/7, 4/6, and 5/5) were tested with both CAC and RCAC supports. The physicochemical parameters monitored include pH, electrical conductivity, total and suspended solids, density, and chemical oxygen demand (COD). Results showed that the 5/5 ZnO–CuO/RCAC catalyst achieved the highest removal efficiency, especially in COD reduction and pH stabilization. However, some parameters, such as EC and COD, remained above reuse thresholds, highlighting the need for further researches . This research confirms the potential of combining photocatalysis with porous carbon materials to improve wastewater quality.