In this study, a composite of zinc oxide and manganese ferrite was synthesized using co-precipitation and hydrothermal routes, to be used as photocatalysts in reactions with UV/Vis light source. The synthesized materials were characterized by FTIR, XRD, and SEM, where it was possible to verify the efficiency of the syntheses performed, through the identification of the resulting phases, the evaluation of the structural morphology of the particles, and the analysis of the detachments of the main vibration bonds present in these materials. The composite ZnO/MnFe₂O₄ was used in photodegradation reactions of the antibiotic rifampicin, with catalyst dosage of 0.20; 0.40, and 0.60 g and 10 ppm of rifampicin, reactions using pure ZnO as a catalyst were also performed as a comparative parameter of the influence of MnFe₂O₄ in this system. The composite ZnO/MnFe₂O₄ showed a maximum percentage of rifampicin decontamination of 94.72% and ZnO, 74.20%using 0.20 g of photocatalyst after 90 min, which indicates a positive influence on this process. The solution treated with ZnO/MnFe₂O₄ was subjected to magnetic field induction for attraction and consequently accelerated removal of the solids present, successfully, compacting for the application of ZnO/MnFe₂O₄ to be presented as a promising material for decontamination of emerging pollutants through photocatalytic reactions.

Water contamination by antibiotics has become a critical environmental and public health issue. Among emerging technologies for their removal, heterogeneous photocatalysis has shown remarkable potential. This review provides a systematic analysis of 40 recent studies (2019–2025) that employed green synthesis routes—including sol–gel, hydrothermal, combustion, pyrolysis and co-precipitation methods—for the photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics. The comparison of these techniques revealed that biogenic metal oxides and ferrites synthesized with plant extracts achieved outstanding photocatalytic performance, with degradation efficiencies often exceeding 90–100% for antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin and tetracycline. These results are attributed to the phytochemical composition of the extracts, which are rich in flavonoids, phenols, saponins, tannins, and alkaloids, which act as natural reducing, capping, and stabilizing agents, promoting uniform nucleation, smaller particle sizes, and enhanced crystallinity. The review also highlights the synergistic relationship between biomolecule-mediated reduction and controlled synthesis conditions, which enables the design of sustainable, reusable, and high-efficiency photocatalysts for wastewater treatment and environmental remediation.