Enhanced degradation of tetracycline under natural sunlight through the synergistic effect of Ag3PO4/MIL-101(Fe) photocatalysis and Fenton catalysis: Mechanism, pathway, and toxicity assessment

Xiaojuan Chen; Liang Yao; Juhua He; Jiesen Li; Song Xu; Ning Li; Yanping Zhu; Xin Chen; Runliang Zhu

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131024

Enhanced degradation of tetracycline under natural sunlight through the synergistic effect of Ag₃PO₄/MIL-101(Fe) photocatalysis and Fenton catalysis: Mechanism, pathway, and toxicity assessment

J Hazard Mater. 2023 May 5:449:131024. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131024. Epub 2023 Feb 21.

Authors

Xiaojuan Chen¹, Liang Yao¹, Juhua He², Jiesen Li³, Song Xu¹, Ning Li⁴, Yanping Zhu⁵, Xin Chen¹, Runliang Zhu⁶

Affiliations

¹ Foshan University, Foshan 528225, China.
² Foshan University, Foshan 528225, China; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 999077, Hong Kong, China.
³ Foshan University, Foshan 528225, China; Department of Research and Development, Guangzhou Ginpie Technology Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510670, China.
⁴ Foshan University, Foshan 528225, China. Electronic address: lining159.com@163.com.
⁵ College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
⁶ Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China. Electronic address: zhurl@gig.ac.cn.

PMID: 36821899
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131024

Abstract

Here, we show that the adverse environmental and health effects of tetracycline (TC) can be efficiently reduced by encapsulating Ag₃PO₄ into MIL-101(Fe) to construct a Ag₃PO₄/MIL-101(Fe) heterojunction composite through advanced oxidation processes, such as Fenton catalysis, photocatalysis, and photo-Fenton catalysis. Notably, the reaction can be driven by natural sunlight and does not require any artificial energy source. Remarkably, the optimal degradation of TC can be achieved under different compositions of the composite system through photocatalysis and photo-Fenton catalysis. For photo-Fenton catalysis, the maximum degradation rate of TC (2.5730 min^-1) is achieved when the mass ratio of MIL-101(Fe) to Ag₃PO₄ in the composite is 5:1, which is 31.65- and 3.12-fold of that in the Ag₃PO₄ + PDS + Sunlight and MIL-101(Fe) + PDS+ Sunlight catalyst systems, respectively. Moreover, the internal conversion of matrix during photocatalysis and Fenton catalysis processes inhibits the photocorrosion of Ag₃PO₄ and improves the reusability of the composite. Furthermore, it is found that both radical and non-radical species participate in the TC degradation. Besides, the degradation products and catalytic mechanism of Ag₃PO₄ and Ag₃PO₄/MIL-101(Fe) systems are explored. The toxicity evaluation results suggest that the intermediates produced during Ag₃PO₄/MIL-101(Fe) catalysis have a lower biotoxicity than those produced during Ag₃PO₄ catalysis. Overall, this work provides an effective strategy to inhibit the inherent photocorrosion of Ag₃PO₄ and establishes an efficient catalytic system for the treatment of organic-contaminated wastewater under natural sunlight conditions.

Keywords: Ag(3)PO(4); MIL-101(Fe); Peroxydisulfate; Photo-Fenton catalysis; Tetracycline.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents*
Catalysis
Hydrogen Peroxide
Sunlight*
Tetracycline

Substances

MIL-101
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Tetracycline
Hydrogen Peroxide