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Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of antibiotic levofloxacin by Ag3PO4/C3N4/ZnO nanocomposite

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Abstract

The antibiotic levofloxacin was degraded by three steps of calcination, hydrothermal reaction and in situ precipitation using g-C3N4 as the substrate, and ZnO and Ag3PO4 were effectively combined to form a ternary photocatalyst of Ag3PO4/C3N4/ZnO. The morphology, structure and optical properties of the photocatalytic materials were investigated using XRD, FTIR, SEM, XPS and UV–Vis, and it was found that the three monomer materials, Ag3PO4, g-C3N4 and ZnO, formed Z-type heterojunctions, which increased the active sites of the photocatalytic materials and broadened the visible absorption spectra of the synthesized composites. The best degradation effect of Ag3PO4/C3N4/ZnO on 10-mg/L levofloxacin was achieved with the addition of 10% ZnO, the dosage of 0.5 g/L and the pH value of 5. The composites were characterized by the high efficiency of degradation of levofloxacin. The degradation rate of levofloxacin was maintained as high as 78.2% after 5 cycles of the experiment, which demonstrated the excellent recyclability of the photocatalytic material. Levofloxacin was decomposed by the Ag3PO4/C3N4/ZnO photocatalyst, and by analyzing the results of the electron spin resonance experiments and the capture test results, it was found that ·OH only played a small role, and h+ and O2− were the main oxidants. Based on the coupled liquid mass spectrometry analysis, the main steps in the degradation process of levofloxacin were the removal of methyl and carboxyl groups, the release of fluorine and the destruction of piperazine and quinoline rings.

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Funding

The authors appreciate for funding sources by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants No. 52100071).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Environmental Science and Technology, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou, 215009, China

    Shicong Luo, Zuzu Pang & Hong Liu

  2. School of Ecological and Environment, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing, 100048, China

    Ning Ding

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SL and ZP performed the literature review, the whole experiment and data analysis; Dr. ND and Dr. HL supervised and revised the manuscript. All authors technically checked and finalized the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Hong Liu.

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Luo, S., Pang, Z., Ding, N. et al. Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of antibiotic levofloxacin by Ag3PO4/C3N4/ZnO nanocomposite. Res Chem Intermed 49, 5517–5539 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11164-023-05144-x

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