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Synthesis of g-C3N4/WO3/CuO and Its Application in Removing Tetracycline from Hospital Wastewater

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Abstract

Tetracycline has a robust structure that is difficult to remove from groundwater systems and can cause various side effects on human health. This study aimed to remove tetracycline by incorporating tungsten and copper intermediate metals onto the surface of g-C3N4.

The two-dimensional heterogeneous composite was synthesized by degrading melamine through heat and then modified with tungsten and copper. The structure of g-C3N4/WO3/CuO was characterized using various methods, including XRD, mapping, EDS, SEM, and FTIR.

The study also investigated parameters that could potentially affect the removal of tetracycline, such as pH, time, g-C3N4/WO3/CuO, temperature, and tetracycline concentration. SEM images and EDS analysis confirmed the presence of WO3, CuO, and C loaded onto the surface of g-C3N4/WO3/CuO, forming the g-C3N4 structure. Tungsten and copper doping in this form facilitated the removal of tetracycline under optimal conditions (tetracycline concentration = 10.0 mg/L, time = 20 min, g-C3N4/WO3/CuO dosage = 200 mg, pH = 4.0 at 25 °C), achieving a removal rate of up to 98%. The addition of tungsten and copper atoms to the g-C3N4 structure enhanced its photocatalytic and electrocatalytic efficiency in removing tetracycline.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Sanandaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj, Iran

    Negin Khoda Bandeh Lou, Fatemeh Keshavarzi & Zahra Hooshmandi

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, Kermanshah Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah, Iran

    Changiz Karami

  3. Institute of Clinical Medicine. N.V. Sklifosovsky, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, 119991, Russia

    Mardin Maroofi Naghadehi

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  1. Negin Khoda Bandeh Lou
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  2. Fatemeh Keshavarzi
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  3. Changiz Karami
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  4. Zahra Hooshmandi
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  5. Mardin Maroofi Naghadehi
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Contributions

Conceptualization: F.K. and Ch.K. Methodology: N.K.,M.M., Z.H., and Ch.K. Software: N.K.,M.M., Z.H., and Ch.K. Validation: N.K. and Ch.K. Formal analysis: N.K., M.M., and Ch.K. Investigation: F.K., N.K., and Ch.K. Resources: F.K., Z.H., and Ch.K. Data curation: N.K., Z.H., and Ch.K. Writing—original draft preparation: F.K.,N.K.,Z.H., M.M., and Ch.K. Writing—review and editing: F.K., N.K., and Ch.K. Supervision: F.K. Project administration: F.K. and Ch.K. Funding acquisition: N.K., F.K. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.”

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Correspondence to Fatemeh Keshavarzi.

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Lou, N.K.B., Keshavarzi, F., Karami, C. et al. Synthesis of g-C3N4/WO3/CuO and Its Application in Removing Tetracycline from Hospital Wastewater. Water Air Soil Pollut 235, 59 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-023-06845-0

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