LAUSR

Abstract In this research, the surface functionalization of TiO2 by silver and molybdenum species was used for the degradation and mineralization of ketoprofen. The catalyst was synthesized by a controlled wet impregnation method and characterized by several techniques; mineralization and degradation were quantified with HPLC and TOC (Total Organic Carbon) achieving more than 40 and 60 % according to the pH. The higher removal using bimetallic synthesized catalyst compared with P25 TiO2 is due to the surface species, Ag, Ag+, MoO3, and Mo5+ that decrease the bandgap energy that inhibit the recombination of photoelectrons and charge separation. The as-synthetized nanocomposites stand as an alternative for the non-steroidal-anti-inflammatory drug commonly found in wastewater.