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Sono-assisted photocatalytic degradation of ciprofloxacin in aquatic media using g-C3N4/MOF-based nanocomposite under visible light irradiation

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Abstract

This research study is centered on the sono-assisted photocatalytic degradation of a well-known antibiotic (ciprofloxacin; CIP) in aquatic media using a g-C3N4/NH2-UiO-66 (Zr) catalyst under visible light irradiation. Initially, the catalyst was prepared by a simple method, and its physiochemical features were thoroughly analyzed by XRD, FT-IR, FE-SEM, EDX, EDS-Dot-Mapping, and UV–Vis analytical techniques. After that, the impact of several influential factors affecting the performance of the applied sono-assisted photocatalytic process such as the initial concentration of CIP, solution pH, catalyst dosage, light intensity, and ultrasound power was fully assessed, and the optimal conditions were established. After 75 min of the sono-assisted photocatalytic treatment, the complete degradation of CIP (10 mg/L) was accomplished under the condition as follows: g-C3N4/NH2-UiO-66 (Zr), 0.6 g/L; pH, 5.0, and ultrasound power, light intensity 75 mw/cm2, 200 W/m2. Meanwhile, the photocatalytic degradation of CIP followed the pseudo-first-order kinetic model. In addition, the scavenger experiments demonstrated that OH˚ and O2°− radicals played a key role in the sono-assisted photocatalytic degradation process. It is also acknowledged that the applied catalyst was reused for five consecutive runs with a minor loss observed in its degradation efficiency. In a further experiment, a significant synergistic effect with regard to the degradation of CIP was observed once all three major parameters (visible light, ultrasound waves, and catalyst) were used in combination compared to each used alone. To sum up, it is thought that the integration of g-C3N4/MOF-based catalyst, ultrasound waves, and visible light irradiation could be potentially applied as a promising strategy for the degradation of various pharmaceuticals on account of high degradation performance, simple operation, excellent reusability, and eco-friendly approach.

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Funding

This research work was financially supported by the Iran University of Medical Sciences (Grant No. 26581), which is hereby acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Center for Environmental Health Technology Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Mojtaba Yeganeh & Ali Esrafili

  2. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Mojtaba Yeganeh & Ali Esrafili

  3. Department of Chemistry, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran

    Hamid Reza Sobhi

  4. Student Research Committee, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshty University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran

    Sevda fallah

  5. Iranian Research and Development Center for Chemical Industries, ACECR, Tehran, Iran

    Mahnaz Ghambarian

Authors
  1. Mojtaba Yeganeh
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  2. Hamid Reza Sobhi
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  3. Sevda fallah
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  4. Mahnaz Ghambarian
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  5. Ali Esrafili
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Contributions

Mojtaba Yeganeh: investigation/writing original draft, methodology. Hamid Reza Sobhi: conceptualization, writing—reviewing and editing. Sevda fallah: methodology, investigation, validation. Mahnaz Ghambarian: methodology, writing original draft/review and editing. Ali Esrafili: visualization, writing original draft/review and editing, supervision.

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Correspondence to Ali Esrafili.

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Yeganeh, M., Sobhi, H.R., fallah, S. et al. Sono-assisted photocatalytic degradation of ciprofloxacin in aquatic media using g-C3N4/MOF-based nanocomposite under visible light irradiation. Environ Sci Pollut Res 31, 35811–35823 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-33222-z

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