Synthesis and characterisation of MXene based-LDH photocatalytic materials for the removal of toxic pharmaceutical effluents

[Display omitted] •Removal of toxic effluents from pharmaceutical wastewater is discussed.•Fabricated LDH and composites are confirmed by XRD, FTIR, and UV–vis analysis.•Photodegradation of pollutants is carried out in the Xenon lamp. The synthesis of highly stable, cost-effective, and efficient photocatalyst materials is the major concern for wastewater remediation in the field of nanotechnology. Herein, the NiFe-LDH (NF-ldh) and its composites with gCN (NF-ldh/gCN) and MXene (NF-ldh/MXene) have been synthesized, characterized and their catalytic potential was explored in the presence of polluted water, discharged from pharmaceutical industries. The mineralization of contaminants has been analyzed by varying the concentration of photocatalysts and the irradiation time. The excellent photodegradation of brexin (BX) and omeprazole (MP) has been examined by the gCN and MXene-based nano-composites because of their porous structure and abundant active sites. Moreover, the carbonaceous materials (gCN and MXene) facilitate the charge transfer by reducing the recombination rate and enhances the absorption of light. The current research has demonstrated the alternative photocatalysts for the wastewater management by the contribution of the Xenon radiations.