Photocatalytic degradation of veterinary antibiotics in wastewaters: A review

, various photocatalytic materials have been used with metal oxides on the frontline. In this context, metal doping has been used to reduce the bandgap energy and enhance the absorption of visible light and charge-carrier separation. Doping with non-metals and carbon-based materials is another attractive alternative that promotes better degradation efficiency and suppresses recombination. Moreover, advanced designs, such as heterojunction constructions, have been developed for effective charge separation and wider utilization of the light spectrum. This comprehensive review summarizes recent advances in the design, characterization, efficiency, and mechanisms of various photocatalysts for degrading veterinary antibiotics in wastewater, along with toxicity assessments of the resulting transformation products. By examining these parameters, the current body of knowledge is consolidated, providing valuable insights into wastewater purification processes for effective antibiotic removal. Finally, by emphasizing the critical environmental importance of streamlined photocatalysis and the challenges associated with scaling up the process, this review highlights its feasibility in mitigating veterinary antibiotic pollution, thereby safeguarding aquatic ecosystems and reducing the risks of antibiotic resistance.