<p>Nitrate contamination poses a severe environmental threat due to its detrimental impact on aquatic ecosystems and human health, necessitating efficient remediation strategies. This study explores the potential of silver-doped titanium dioxide (Ag-TiO₂) nanoparticles as an advanced photocatalyst for nitrate removal from wastewater. Ag doping enhances the photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ by narrowing its bandgap energy and improving charge carrier separation, thereby facilitating efficient nitrate reduction under ultraviolet A (UVA) irradiation. The crystalline structure, morphology, oxidation states, and optical properties of the synthesized Ag-TiO₂ nanoparticles were characterized using various analytical techniques. A series of controlled batch experiments was conducted to investigate the effects of photocatalyst dosage (0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 g) and initial nitrate concentrations (10, 25, 50, 80, and 100 mg-N/L) on the photocatalytic reduction process. The results indicate that 1.0% Ag-TiO₂ exhibits superior nitrate removal efficiency (over 97% within 90 min) compared to undoped TiO₂, with predominant conversion to environmentally benign nitrogen gas (N₂) and minimal accumulation of undesired byproducts such as nitrite (NO₃⁻) and ammonium ions (NH₄⁺). The enhanced performance is attributed to the plasmonic effect of silver, which extends the light absorption range into the UVA spectrum and suppresses electron-hole recombination. This study highlights the environmental sustainability of Ag-TiO₂ as an efficient, photocatalytically active material for nitrate remediation, presenting a promising solution for wastewater treatment applications.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>