3D-Printed SiO2-BaTiO3/SrTiO3‑Polymeric Composites for Enhanced Photocatalytic and Piezocatalytic Mitigation of Methylene Blue and Tetracycline Pollutants.

Effluents from textile, leather, paper, food, and cosmetic industries are recognized as major sources of dye pollution, while antibiotic contamination primarily originates from pharmaceutical, medical, and aquaculture activities. Both forms of pollution pose significant environmental and public health risks, necessitating the development of advanced multifunctional materials for wastewater remediation. In this study, a novel 3D-printed SiO2-BaTiO3/SrTiO3-polymeric composite scaffold was developed, integrating a triple synergistic mechanism comprising adsorption, photocatalysis, and piezocatalysis for the efficient mitigation of methylene blue (MB) dye and tetracycline (TC) pollutants. The BaTiO3 and SrTiO3 nanoparticles were synthesized via a solution combustion method, while SiO2 was sustainably obtained from bagasse ash, exhibiting surface areas of 11.88, 4.77, and 74.16 m2/g, respectively. The 3D-printed porous architectures, precisely designed using computer-aided modeling, enhanced active surface accessibility and facilitated mass transfer, thereby improving overall catalytic efficiency. The SiO2-BaTiO3-polymer and SiO2-SrTiO3-polymer composites achieved over 60% MB removal by adsorption, 18% by photocatalytic degradation under UV illumination, and over 20% by piezocatalytic degradation under ultrasonic vibration, resulting in total degradation efficiencies exceeding 88% for MB and 85% for TC. The integration of waste-derived SiO2, functional titanate ceramics, and additive manufacturing underscores the novelty of this work, providing a sustainable and scalable pathway for next-generation wastewater treatment systems in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).