Photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline using a novel WO3–ZnO/AC under visible light irradiation: Optimization of effective factors by RSM-CCD

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 347; p. 123746
• Main Authors: Mohtaram, Mohammad Sina, Sabbaghi, Samad, Rasouli, Jamal, Rasouli, Kamal
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 15.04.2024
• Subjects: Activated carbon; Biomass conversion; Pharmaceutical contaminations; Photocatalysis; Wastewater; Pharmaceutical contaminations; Wastewater; Biomass conversion; Photocatalysis; Activated carbon
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123746

Mitigating pharmaceutical pollution in the global environment is imperative, and tetracycline (TC) is a commonly utilized antibiotic in human and veterinary medicine. The persistent existence of TC highlights the necessity of establishing efficient measures to protect water systems and the environment from detrimental contaminants. Herein, a novel rhubarb seed waste-derived activated carbon-supported photocatalyst (WO3–ZnO/RUAC) was synthesized by combining wet impregnation and ultrasonic methods. The activated carbon (AC) was obtained from rhubarb seed waste for the first time via chemical activation. The function of AC as an electron acceptor and in separating electron-hole pairs was illuminated by characterization analyses that included XRD, FTIR, XPS, SEM, TEM, PL, EIS, TPC, and UV-DRS. Using the response surface methodology-central composite design (RSM-CCD) technique, the synthesis parameters of the composite were systematically optimized. Under ideal conditions, with a TC concentration of 33 mg. L−1, pH of 4.57, irradiation time of 108 min, and catalyst dose of 0.85 g. L−1, the highest degradation efficiency of TC by this composite, achieved 96.5%, and it was reusable for five cycles. Subsequently, trapping tests and electron spin resonance (ESR) analysis were conducted, elucidating that •OH and •O2− radicals played pivotal roles in the photocatalytic degradation of TC. This research offers valuable insights into utilizing the AC-based photocatalyst to degrade pharmaceutical micropollutants effectively. [Display omitted] •Rhubarb seed waste is firstly used to produce activated carbon (AC) by chemical activation.•A novel AC-based photocatalyst (WZAC) was synthesized by innovative methods.•RSM-CCD was used for optimization of synthesized catalyst for degradation of tetracycline.•Role of AC was investigated for enhancing efficiency of catalyst under visible light.•Efficiency of WZAC for photocatalytic degradation reached to 96.5% in 100 min irradiation time.