Journal of Biomedical Advancement Scientific Research

Abstract

Water contamination caused by persistent emerging pollutants has become a critical environmental and public health issue worldwide. Among the most concerning contaminants are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), microplastics, and pharmaceutical residues. These contaminants exhibit high chemical stability and resistance to conventional water treatment processes, allowing them to persist in aquatic environments and accumulate in living organisms. Traditional treatment technologies often focus on the removal of a single contaminant class and therefore struggle to address complex mixtures of pollutants simultaneously. In recent years, nanotechnology-based treatment approaches have gained significant attention due to their ability to enhance contaminant removal through advanced material properties. In particular, nanocomposite adsorption–photocatalytic systems combine adsorption capacity with catalytic degradation, enabling simultaneous capture and breakdown of persistent contaminants. This study investigates the performance of a multifunctional nanocomposite material designed for the simultaneous removal of PFAS, microplastics, and pharmaceutical residues from contaminated water. A mixed method research approach was adopted that integrates experimental laboratory analysis, material characterization, and computational modeling to evaluate treatment performance. The synthesized nanocomposite consists of titanium dioxide nanoparticles combined with graphene oxide and polymeric adsorption matrices. Experimental results demonstrate that the hybrid adsorption–photocatalytic system significantly improves contaminant removal efficiency compared with conventional treatment processes. PFAS removal efficiencies reached approximately 85%, while pharmaceutical degradation exceeded 90% under optimized photocatalytic conditions. Microplastic particles were effectively captured through adsorption and aggregation mechanisms. These findings indicate that nanocomposite adsorption–photocatalytic systems represent a promising strategy for addressing complex water contamination challenges and advancing next generation water treatment technologies.