Synthesis and Application of a Fe 3 O 4 /Ag 3 PO 4 /g-C 3 N 4 Magnetic Composite Photocatalyst for Sulfonamide Antibiotics Degradation

Ke Li, Miaomiao Chen, Lei Chen (), Songying Zhao, Wencong Xue and Yanchao Han
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Ke Li: Key Laboratory of Song Liao Aquatic Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin Jianzhu University, Changchun 130118, China
Miaomiao Chen: Key Laboratory of Song Liao Aquatic Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin Jianzhu University, Changchun 130118, China
Lei Chen: Key Laboratory of Song Liao Aquatic Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin Jianzhu University, Changchun 130118, China
Songying Zhao: Key Laboratory of Song Liao Aquatic Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin Jianzhu University, Changchun 130118, China
Wencong Xue: Key Laboratory of Song Liao Aquatic Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin Jianzhu University, Changchun 130118, China
Yanchao Han: State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 17, 1-14

Abstract: In this study, a novel Fe 3 O 4 /Ag 3 PO 4 /g-C 3 N 4 magnetic composite photocatalyst was successfully synthesized, tailored specifically for the visible light-driven photocatalytic degradation of sulfonamide antibiotics, more precisely, sulfamethazine (SMZ). To analyze the fabricated samples, characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra (UV-vis) were systematically employed. The composite showcased efficient visible-light absorption and charge separation, with its peak photocatalytic performance recorded at a solution pH value of 6.0. Significantly, the Fe 3 O 4 /Ag 3 PO 4 /g-C 3 N 4 magnetic composite photocatalyst displayed excellent stability and recyclability, consistently maintaining a high degradation efficiency of over 97% even after five consecutive cycles. Further experimentation with radical scavengers confirmed a significant decrease in photocatalytic activity, establishing that superoxide radicals (•O 2 − ) and photo-generated holes (h + ) are the primary active species during the degradation of SMZ. Overall, it provides a crucial understanding regarding the photocatalytic decomposition of sulfonamide antibiotics using magnetic composite photocatalysts. It also emphasizes the promising potential of the Fe 3 O 4 /Ag 3 PO 4 /g-C 3 N 4 composite for tangible applications in environmental remediation.

Keywords: visible light; photocatalysis; Fe 3 O 4 /Ag 3 PO 4 /g-C 3 N 4; sulfonamide (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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