Preparation of Ce0.9Zr0.1O2/SnIn4S8 composite photocatalyst and its degradation of typical antibiotic pollutants

Considering the high environmental risk, the remediation of antibiotic pollutants attracted numerous attentions. In this work, a novel photocatalyst, Ce0.9Zr0.1O2/SnIn4S8, was fabricated by in situ precipitation and hydrothermal method and then applied to the degradation of norfloxacin under the irritation of visible light. The SEM, TEM, XRD, XPS, and electrochemical results clearly showed that the n-type heterojunction between Ce0.9Zr0.1O2 and SnIn4S8 was successfully constructed, which greatly reduces the recombination of the photogenic electron and holes, leading to the improvement of photocatalytic performance and stability (recycled over eight times). Besides, the Ce0.9Zr0.1O2/SnIn4S8 composite also exhibited good ability to mineralize norfloxacin. Under the optimal condition (pH 3, 1 g L-1 of 10% Ce0.9Zr0.1O2/SnIn4S8, and 8 mg L-1 of initial norfloxacin concentration), norfloxacin could be fully and rapidly degraded in 60 min, and completely mineralized in 4 h (99.3 +/- 1.7%). LC-QTOF-MS results evidently displayed eight intermediates during norfloxacin degradation. In addition, with the attack of the reactive oxygen species (h(+), center dot OH, and center dot O-2(-)), norfloxacin could be effectively decomposed via deoxygenation, hydroxylation, and carboxylation reactions. Notably, compared to photodegradation, the photocatalytic process could completely eliminate the norfloxacin from water because it could avoid the accumulation of toxic byproducts.

Automated summary

A novel photocatalyst Ce0.9Zr0.1O2/SnIn4S8 was successfully prepared and applied for the degradation of antibiotic norfloxacin under visible light irradiation, showing good degradation efficiency and recyclable stability. Under optimized conditions, norfloxacin could be fully degraded in 60 minutes and completely mineralized in 4 hours.