Thendral, A.A.ThendralRajendran, A.A.RajendranTiffany, M.M.TiffanyAbisheik, T.T.AbisheikPandiyan, V.V.PandiyanPeriyasami, GovindasamiGovindasamiPeriyasamiRaja, AnnamalaiAnnamalaiRajaThirumurugan, ArunArunThirumuruganChinnasamy, SuryaSuryaChinnasamyAyyaru, SivasankaranSivasankaranAyyaruBalu, KrishnakumarKrishnakumarBalu2026-07-072026-07-072026-10JOURNAL OF THE TAIWAN INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERS, 187, 106740 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtice.2026.1067401876-10701876-1089https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12740/24731Background: Water pollution caused by persistent organic dyes in industrial effluents poses serious environmental and health hazards. Long-term wastewater treatment requires the development of effective photocatalysts for colour degradation and purification. Methods: ZnO and Cd-incorporated ZnO nanoparticles were obtained through a straightforward wet-chemical precipitation approach. A wide range of analytical techniques, including XRD, FT-IR, Raman spectroscopy, FE-SEM, EDS, HR-TEM, XPS, UV-DRS, and PL-were employed to investigate the samples' structural, optical, and morphological properties. Photocatalytic degradation of Reactive Red 120 (RR 120) and Acid Black 1 (AB 1) dyes was studied under natural sunlight and UV-C irradiation, while the influence of pH, catalyst dosage, and recyclability was also assessed. Significant Findings: The incorporation of Cd into the ZnO lattice reduced its optical bandgap, increased its ability to harvest visible light, and facilitated more efficient charge carrier dissociation, which together enhanced the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The 3 wt% Cd-ZnO sample exhibited nearly 100 % degradation of RR 120 within 120-150 min, demonstrating superior activity and stability. Radical trapping and GC-MS analyses confirmed the degradation mechanism. Moreover, antibacterial assays against both Gram-positive and Gramnegative bacteria verified Cd-ZnO's dual functionality for photocatalytic remediation and microbial disinfection.PhotocatalysisDye degradationUV/Solar irradiationAntibacterial activityEnvironmental remediationArticulohttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtice.2026.106740