Piroxicam and naproxen are well-known non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that are frequently detected in aquatic environments due to their widespread usage and improper disposal practices. This research investigates the photocatalytic degradation of these drugs by using CeO2 nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were synthesized by using Azadirachta indica plant extract and were characterized through various characterization techniques such as UV-visible spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, SEM, EDX, and XRD. The photocatalytic degradation of piroxicam and naproxen using CeO2 nanoparticles led to the efficient removal of these pharmaceutical drugs in a short time duration with photodegradation efficiencies of 89% and 97% for naproxen and piroxicam, respectively. The photodegradation reaction was found to follow pseudo-order first-order kinetics. The recyclability of the catalyst was also studied for up to six cycles where the degradation efficiency was maintained at 100% till the 2nd cycle and was decreased by 11 and 13% for piroxicam and naproxen respectively after the 6th cycle. The current work focused on the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs) for water purification via environmentally benign nanoparticles to remedy water pollution as it is the most prevalent issue in developed and underdeveloped countries throughout the world.
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