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MCM-41 templating of semiconductors onto microwave-induced KOH-modified biomass-activated carbon for photo-mineralization of tetracycline: response surface methodology

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Abstract

The quest for the availability of potable water in the sub-Sahara Africa is the trigger and impetus for this research work. Hence, this research work highlights the application of a semiconductor photocatalyst (MCM-41 silica templating of Al2O3/ZnO/SnO2/TiO2 onto microwave-induced KOH-modified Pinus sylvestris cellulosic biomass-activated carbon) for photo-mineralization of tetracycline (TC) by the response surface methodology/central composite design approach/technique. This semiconductor photocatalyst’s surface microstructures were studied using Fourier transform-attenuated total reflectance, thermogravimetric analysis and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller/Barrett–Joyner–Halenda nitrogen sorptiometry–desorptiometry at cryogenic temperature (77 K). The results obtained from this microstructural analysis showed that the semiconductor photocatalyst was a thermally stable and multi-functional material that photo-degraded 99.25% of 20 mg/L of TC, with a half-life of 3.52 min and 9.93 mg of TC photo-degraded per g of semiconductor photocatalyst. This also showed that this semiconductor photocatalyst was efficient and, thus, a suitable and promising photocatalytic candidate for the degradation of other antibiotics other than TC in future perspective.

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Acknowledgements

Dr. Martins O. Omorogie (Postdoctoral Research Fellow: VUT/Staff/2015709) sincerely appreciates the research fund magnanimously provided by Vaal University of Technology (VUT), Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng Province, South Africa that was used to carry out this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Adsorption and Catalysis Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Vaal University of Technology, Private Bag X021, Andries Potgieter Boulevard, Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng, 1900, South Africa

    M. O. Omorogie & A. E. Ofomaja

  2. Environmental and Chemical Processes Research Laboratory, Centre for Chemical and Biochemical Research, Department of Chemical Sciences, Redeemer’s University, P.M.B. 230, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria

    M. O. Omorogie

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  1. M. O. Omorogie
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  2. A. E. Ofomaja
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Correspondence to M. O. Omorogie.

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Omorogie, M.O., Ofomaja, A.E. MCM-41 templating of semiconductors onto microwave-induced KOH-modified biomass-activated carbon for photo-mineralization of tetracycline: response surface methodology. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 16, 495–505 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-018-1689-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-018-1689-8

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