OICC Press Iranian Journal of Catalysis 2345-4865 15 1 2024 11 25 Visible-light-assisted Photocatalytic Removal of Cefixime and Cloxacillin Sodium using Cobalt Oxide Nanosheets 1 7 10.57647/j.ijc.2025.1501.03 EN Muhammad Usman Amin Department of Chemistry, The University of Lahore, Pakistan https://orcid.org/0009-0006-6842-4821 Zahid Ali Department of Chemistry, The University of Lahore, Pakistan  AND  College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8137-2089 Saeed Ahmed Department of Chemistry, University of Chakwal, Pakistan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9872-4474 Aimon Saleem Department of Chemistry, The University of Lahore, Pakistan https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6418-0221 Umer Younas Department of Chemistry, The University of Lahore, Pakistan https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6889-327X Faiza Hassan Department of Chemistry, The University of Lahore, Pakistan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7263-2811 Asif Mahmood Department of Pharmacy, University of Chakwal, Pakistan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4468-1069 Journal Article 2024 11 25 The rise of consumerism and the pharmaceutical industries has led to an increase in waste drugs being dumped into water resources, causing severe environmental and health consequences. The Cobalt Oxide (Co3O4) nanosheets were prepared using the precipitation method under mild conditions. The formed Co3O4 was characterized using various spectroscopic techniques, including FTIR, X-ray diffraction, SEM, and UV-Vis analysis. The Co3O4 photocatalytic process has shown significant potential as an affordable, sustainable, and eco-friendly method of treating pharmaceutical drugs from wastewater. The highest photocatalytic degradation was obtained at an initial concentration of 10 ppm with an irradiation time of 180 minutes for cefixime and cloxacillin sodium. This study provides new insight and potential for practical application to overcome the pollution of emerging pollutants. Research Highlights Fabrication of cobalt oxide nanosheets under mild conditions. Visible-light-assisted degradation of cefixime and cloxacillin sodium. Maximum degradation was achieved at 10 ppm with an irradiation time of three hours. The removal efficiency of pharmacuticals mainly depends upon the free radicals. Provides new insight into the pollution control of emerging pollutants.