BaTi0.85Zr0.15O3/MIL-101(Fe) nanocomposite in the photodegradation of tetracycline

A novel BaTi0.85Zr0.15O3/MIL-101(Fe) nanocomposite, synthesized by one-pot solvent-thermal method, was evaluated for the photodegradation of tetracycline (TC). The catalyst was characterized by several techniques namely Scanning electron microscopes (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS); PXRD and SEM measurements affirmed the nano dimensional size of the catalyst, BaTi0.85Zr0.15O3 and nanocomposite, BaTi0.85Zr0.15O3/MIL101(Fe). Relative to individual components, the nanocomposite catalyst bearing optimized ratios, BaTi0.85Zr0.15O3, exhibited the best photocatalytic activity, with the highest efficiency at 30 wt% influ-enced mainly by the direct Z-scheme; 0.6 g/L dose of BaTi0.85Zr0.15O3(30 wt%)/MIL-101(Fe) at pH 9, irradiation time of 150 min, and a CTC concentration of 10 ppm attained the maximum TC degradation (95%) as ascertained by HPLC. The photodegradation kinetics of TC were described by a Hinshelwood model with an apparent first -order kinetic constant of 6.28 x 10-3 min- 1 (a t1/2 value of 110.4 min) while k-values for photodegraded so-lutions were obtained at 6.91 x 10-3 min-1 (t1/2-value of 110.3 min) deploying Chemical oxygen demand (COD) as a test method. The scavengers' importance in decreasing the photocatalyst's activity was assessed which were in the order ascorbic acid > sulfate > chloride > bicarbonate, where superoxide radicals had the greatest impact.

Automated summary

A new BaTi0.85Zr0.15O3/MIL-101(Fe) nanocomposite was synthesized and evaluated for the photodegradation of tetracycline (TC). The nanocomposite exhibited the best photocatalytic activity compared to individual components, achieving a maximum TC degradation rate of 95% under optimized conditions. The photodegradation kinetics followed a Hinshelwood model with an apparent first-order kinetic constant of 6.28 x 10-3 min-1 and a half-life of 110.4 min.