Sustainable Photocatalytic Removal of Diclofenac from Aquatic Environments Using CdS Nanorods: Synthesis, Structural Characterization, and Performance Evaluation

The widespread contamination of aquatic ecosystems through pharmaceutical pollutants, particularly diclofenac shows a critical challenge to conventional water treatment systems, which are often inadequate in addressing the persistent and harmful nature of these substances. This study evaluated the photocatalytic degradation of diclofenac using cadmium sulfide nanorods (CdS NRs) synthesized via a hydrothermal method at 363 K. The cost-effectiveness, availability, easy synthesis and exceptional redox activity of CdS NRs, demonstrated its promising potential to be used as photocatalysts for environmental cleanup. Several analytical tools were used to determine its surface morphology, structure, physicochemical and optical properties. FESEM analysis revealed an average particle size of 90.89 ± 0.01 nm along with the EDX spectra and elemental mapping. XRD analysis confirmed a face-centered cubic (FCC) fluorite-type structure with crystallite sizes of 6.838 ± 0.01 nm. UV-Vis spectroscopy showed two prominent absorbance peaks at 350 nm and 480 nm with a corresponding bandgap energy of 2.39 ± 0.01 eV. The presence of Cd-S bond and improved crystallinity as well as decreased surface adsorbates at increased synthesis temperatures were confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy. Photocatalytic degradation of CdS NRs was obtained to 85 percent in 210 minutes when xenon lamp (λ > 300 nm, 300 W) was used. The results proved a new and effective way of the photocatalytic removal of insistent pharmaceutical contaminants and offered a long-term opportunity to improve the quality of water and save the environment.