Solvothermal synthesis of CTAB capped and SDS capped BiOCl photocatalysts for degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) dye and fluoroquinolone antibiotics

A solvothermal route for reparation of the BiOCl photocatalysts using CTAB or SDS capping agent has been demonstrated. The surfactant strongly influences the morphology, surface area and photoactivity of the photocatalyst. The CTAB capped BiOCl photocatalyst, with high specific surface area and high electron-hole pairs separation rate, shows efficiency of 82-98% toward photodegradation of ofloxacin (OFL), norfloxacin (NOR), ciprofloxacin (CIP) and Rhodamine B (RhB) pollutants. In the case of the SDS capped BiOCl photocatalyst, the complete photodegradation of RhB dye was reported. The enhanced efficiency is due to the existence of SDS comprising polar head, which afford excellent water solubility, and non-polar tail which can facilitate adsorption of pollutant molecule on the surface of the photocatalyst. The capped photocatalyst also shows complete photodegradation of the pollutants after 40 min of solar light irradiation with good structural stability after the third run. The results strongly indicated that the added surfactants play an important role in enhancement of the photocatalytic performance. This work demonstrates a promising potential of the BiOCl photocatalysts for environmental protection.

Automated summary

The solvothermal synthesis of BiOCl photocatalysts using CTAB or SDS capping agents has been demonstrated to enhance the efficiency of photodegradation for OFL, NOR, CIP, and RhB pollutants. The surfactants play a crucial role in influencing the morphology, surface area, and photoactivity of the photocatalysts, indicating their potential for environmental protection.