Enhanced sonophotocatalytic degradation of amoxicillin antibiotics using Fe3O4@SiO2/PAEDTC surrounded by MIL-101(Fe) in aquatic environment under the COVID-19 pandemic

• Published in: Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. A, Chemistry. Vol. 446; p. 115140
• Main Authors: Al-Musawi, Tariq J., Kozlitina, Iuliia A., Moradi, Mona, Rahimpoor, Razzagh, Mengelizadeh, Nezamaddin, Hjazi, Ahmed, Alazbjee, Adeeb Abdulally Abdulhussien, Balarak, Davoud
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.01.2024
• Subjects: Amoxicillin; Metal-organic framework; Mineralization; Sonophotocatalytic; Toxicity study; Toxicity study; Sonophotocatalytic; Metal-organic framework; Mineralization; Amoxicillin
• ISSN: 1010-6030; 1873-2666
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotochem.2023.115140

[Display omitted] •Fe3O4@SiO2@MIL-101 (Fe) nanoparticles were synthesized using a chemical method.•Sonophotocatalytic studies hybrid system was applied to efficient degradation of AMX.•Catalytic Fe3O4@SiO2@MIL-101 (Fe) activity enhanced substantially in coupling with UV and US irradiations.•At optimal conditions, over 100% AMX was removed over 25 min reaction.•Radical scavenger experiments showed the involvement of both •OH and SO4·- in the removal of AMX.•The reduction in COD and TOC confirms the destruction of the organic molecules in the effluents along with AMX removal. In the conditions of corona disease, the need for antibiotics in the world has quadrupled, so it is required to remove their residues from the environment. A core–shell metal–organic framework (MOF) composed of Fe3O4, SiO2, and MIL-101 was synthesized by hydrothermal method and used as a sonophotocatalyst for the amoxicillin (AMX) degradation from aqueous solution. The features of the new MOF were determined by SEM, TEM, XRD, FTIR, and BET techniques. The specific area of core–shell magnetic particles was 992 m2/g, which was indicative of its usability to adsorb pollutants and photons. Complete degradation of AMX was achieved by sonophotocatalysis process based on prepared nanocomposite at pH of 5, UV intensity of 36 W, AMX concentration of 50 mg/L, US frequency of 36 kHz, and time of 25 min. Kinetic study with pseudo-first order reaction for the decomposition of AMX showed the order of kinetic constant rate as Ksonophotocatalytic > Kphotocatalytic > Ksonocatalytic > Kadsorption. Hydroxyl radicals (•OH) and holes (h+) were respectively determined as the main species in the decomposition of AMX by performing quenching experiments. Less than an 8% reduction in AMX degradation rate was observed by the sonophotocatalytic process in the presence of prepared nanocomposite during six consecutive reaction cycles. Removal rates of TOC > 77% and BOD5/COD ratio > 0.4 showed that AMX was converted to CO2, H2O, and simple degradable compounds during the sonophotocatalysis process. A toxicity study with the microbial culture of Escherichia coli (E. coli) demonstrated a lower inhibition rate in the sonophotocatalytic process compared to photolysis and photocatalytic processes. All the laboratory results proved that the Fe3O4@SiO2@MIL-101(Fe) is an encouraging candidate for AMX degradation to preserve the ecosystem.