Volume 13, Issue 3 (12-2025)
J Environ Health Eng 2025, 13(3): 298-308 |
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Noroozi R, Mohammadi Kalhori E, Zarrabi M. Photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline antibiotic using Cu-TiO2/CQD composite under visible light from aqueous media: synthesis, characterization and operation parameters. J Environ Health Eng 2025; 13 (3) :298-308
URL: http://jehe.abzums.ac.ir/article-1-1138-en.html
URL: http://jehe.abzums.ac.ir/article-1-1138-en.html
1- Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran & Health, Safety, and Environment Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran , dr.norozi@yahoo.com
2- Health, Safety, and Environment Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran & Instructor, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
3- Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran & Health, Safety, and Environment Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
2- Health, Safety, and Environment Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran & Instructor, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
3- Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran & Health, Safety, and Environment Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
Abstract: (26 Views)
Background: Antibiotics have been raised as one of the most controversial issues in the field of environment due to their high hydrophobicity, bioaccumulation and their resistance to biodegradation. Recently, by adding an external agent to the titanium (TiO2) catalyst, its band gap energy is reduced and electron recombination is prevented. The composite made under visible light can be used with low energy. Therefore, the main aim of this research is to investigate the photocatalytic removal of tetracycline from aqueous solutions using a hybrid composite of copper and carbon quantum dots (CQD) doped with TiO2 under visible light irradiation.
Materials and Methods: In the synthesis of Cu-TiO2-CQD composite, first, Cu-TiO2 catalyst was prepared by sol-gel method, and then carbon quantum dots (CQD) were deposited on it. The properties of the synthesized photocatalyst were determined through FESEM, FTIR and XRD analyses. The reactor used in this study was a batch-type reactor and the effect of effective parameters on the process such as pH, initial antibiotic concentration, photocatalyst dosage, reaction kinetics and the ability to recover and reuse the photocatalyst were investigated.
Results: The results of FESEM, FTIR and XRD analyses showed that the synthesis of Cu-TiO2-CQD photocatalyst was successful. The highest removal rate of tetracycline antibiotic was achieved at a concentration of 20 mg/L and a contact time of 60 min, at pH=7 and a photocatalyst dosage of 0.8 g/L, which was above 99%. Comparison of kinetic data with pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models showed that the pseudo-first-order model described the tetracycline removal process with better agreement (R2=0.977). The synthesized photocatalyst was reusable for 6 consecutive cycles, and in the sixth step, tetracycline was degraded with an efficiency of 93%.
Conclusion: Structural and chemical investigation of the photocatalyst showed that Cu-TiO2-CQD was well synthesized. The Cu-TiO2-CQD photocatalytic process can be used as an effective and efficient process in the treatment of antibiotic-containing wastewater or industrial wastewater due to its good recyclability and high photocatalytic activity.
Materials and Methods: In the synthesis of Cu-TiO2-CQD composite, first, Cu-TiO2 catalyst was prepared by sol-gel method, and then carbon quantum dots (CQD) were deposited on it. The properties of the synthesized photocatalyst were determined through FESEM, FTIR and XRD analyses. The reactor used in this study was a batch-type reactor and the effect of effective parameters on the process such as pH, initial antibiotic concentration, photocatalyst dosage, reaction kinetics and the ability to recover and reuse the photocatalyst were investigated.
Results: The results of FESEM, FTIR and XRD analyses showed that the synthesis of Cu-TiO2-CQD photocatalyst was successful. The highest removal rate of tetracycline antibiotic was achieved at a concentration of 20 mg/L and a contact time of 60 min, at pH=7 and a photocatalyst dosage of 0.8 g/L, which was above 99%. Comparison of kinetic data with pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models showed that the pseudo-first-order model described the tetracycline removal process with better agreement (R2=0.977). The synthesized photocatalyst was reusable for 6 consecutive cycles, and in the sixth step, tetracycline was degraded with an efficiency of 93%.
Conclusion: Structural and chemical investigation of the photocatalyst showed that Cu-TiO2-CQD was well synthesized. The Cu-TiO2-CQD photocatalytic process can be used as an effective and efficient process in the treatment of antibiotic-containing wastewater or industrial wastewater due to its good recyclability and high photocatalytic activity.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2025/09/29 | Accepted: 2025/11/29 | Published: 2025/12/13
Received: 2025/09/29 | Accepted: 2025/11/29 | Published: 2025/12/13
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