Photocatalytic degradation behavior of multiple xenobiotics using MOCVD synthesized ZnO nanowires

[Display omitted] •The ability to grow ZnO nanowires on flat surfaces using a gas-phase MOCVD process.•The photocatalytic performances of the ZnO were investigated using xenobiotics.•Excellent photocatalytic degradation kinetics were observed for ZnO nanowires. In this study, we investigated the beneficial properties of ZnO nanowires grown via a MOCVD (Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition) process for the photocatalytic treatment of a solution containing seven xenobiotics that are commonly found in waste or surface water. A physicochemical characterization of the ZnO nanowires was performed to highlight the advantages of the high-temperature gas-phase MOCVD process for the synthesis of photocatalytic ZnO materials. In addition, the photocatalytic degradation of carbamazepine, diclofenac, lidocaine, metoprolol, propranolol, sulfadimidine and atenolol was studied for the first time using a one-step experiment under a low power 365nm UV light (2.28mWcm−2). We determined the fast photodegradation kinetics of all of the xenobiotics present in the solution. These results support the use of photocatalytic methods for the removal and degradation of xenobiotics.