Refinery waste products, such as polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), fail to be extracted from refinery effluents via filtration and adsorption, posing a threat on human health and the environment. Unlike bacterial-mediated oxidation, the use of semiconductor photocatalysis and advanced oxidative processes is a potential solution to this issue as the catalyst can be recycled and no harsh chemical oxidants are needed. Metal oxides as semiconductors, specifically more basic ones, have been proven to be highly effective in PAH degradation. Various synthetic routes were investigated in addition to different semiconductor supports. Zinc oxide is favoured due to its basicity in nature and larger particle size for efficient recyclability. Given the benefits of semiconductor photocatalysis compared to current PAH degradation methods, this study seeks to determine the most effective method to synthesize and design more efficient nanoparticle catalysts for photooxidative degradation.