| Summary: | An anatase phase of the TiO<sub>2</sub>-H-beta (THB) zeolite composite photocatalyst is used for the photocatalytic degradation of caffeine, a persistent organic pollutant (POP). It is synthesized by a simple two-step sol-gel method. Phase formation, morphology, bandgap, and photocatalytic properties were analyzed using powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, respectively. The THB and the anatase TiO<sub>2</sub> samples were then tested for the photocatalytic activity of the degradation of caffeine. Photocatalytic studies reveal that the as-prepared THB composite showed excellent activity for the degradation of 10 ppm caffeine solution. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) analysis found caffeine to have degraded with an efficiency of 96%. Scavenging experiments indicated that the hydroxide radical played an important role in the degradation of caffeine. The results highlight the role of the H-beta zeolite as an effective support to TiO<sub>2</sub> and improved the photocatalytic activity. The study demonstrates that the THB composite could be effectively applied for the photocatalytic degradation of other POPs largely present in active pharmaceutical ingredients.
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