Visible-light induced photocatalytic degradation of estrone (E1) with hexagonal copper selenide nanoflakes in water

Steroid hormones, being potent endocrine-disruptors, are a menace to human health and aquatic life. Herein, visible-light induced photocatalytic degradation of estrone (E1) by hexagonal copper selenide (CuSe) nanoflakes has been reported. CuSe was synthesised by a facile and low-temperature (100 oC) co-precipitation method and was characterised. The nanocrystals were of stoichiometric Cu:Se ratio with Se2- and Cu in the + 1/+ 2 mixedvalence state and exhibited laminar, flake-like morphology with a preferred hexagonal close-packed structure (P63/mmc) having average particle size and thickness of 0.229 +/- 0.146 mu m and 0.05 +/- 0.02 mu m, respectively. The adsorption isotherms of E1 were linear and the adsorption process was exothermic. The reactivity of E1 under aqueous suspensions of CuSe exposed to visible light exhibited pseudo-first-order kinetics with a rate constant, k, that varied with initial E1 concentration, light power, catalyst dose, and pH. Particularly, k was almost constant over the range pH5-9 but substantially increased as pH rose to 11, while light power and catalyst dose increased k up to a maximum, and the initial concentration reduced k. Surprisingly, CuSe oxidised E1, even in the absence of light, and leached species that were identified and their time-dependency was determined. We concluded that the disappearance of E1 by CuSe is attributed to synergetic effects of adsorption, oxidation by CuSe, and photocatalytic degradation. Supported by liquid-mass spectrometry analysis and molecular chemistry calculations, we also suggested a possible mechanism for E1 degradation. Thus, hexagonal CuSe nanocrystals can be a promising candidate for the treatment of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDC)-contaminated wastewaters.

Automated summary

Steroid hormones are a threat to human health and aquatic life as potent endocrine-disruptors. This study reports the visible-light induced photocatalytic degradation of estrone (E1) by hexagonal copper selenide (CuSe) nanoflakes. CuSe nanocrystals synthesized at low temperature exhibited high reactivity towards E1 even in the absence of light, and the degradation was attributed to the synergetic effects of adsorption, oxidation by CuSe, and photocatalytic degradation. CuSe nanocrystals have promising potential for treating endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDC)-contaminated wastewaters.