Efficient activation of persulfate by Ti3C2 MXene QDs modified ZnFe2O4 for the rapid degradation of tetracycline

Qi Wang; Fang Zhu; Hao Cheng; Sridhar Komarneni; Jianfeng Ma

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138546

Efficient activation of persulfate by Ti₃C₂ MXene QDs modified ZnFe₂O₄ for the rapid degradation of tetracycline

Chemosphere. 2023 Jul:328:138546. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138546. Epub 2023 Apr 3.

Authors

Qi Wang¹, Fang Zhu¹, Hao Cheng², Sridhar Komarneni³, Jianfeng Ma⁴

Affiliations

¹ School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Changzhou University, Jiangsu, 213164, China.
² Guangxi Key Laboratory of Green Processing of Sugar Resources, College of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Guangxi University of Science and Technology, Guangxi, 545006, China.
³ Department of Ecosystem Science and Management and Materials Research Institute, 204 Materials Research Laboratory, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA. Electronic address: sxk7@psu.edu.
⁴ School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Changzhou University, Jiangsu, 213164, China. Electronic address: jma@zju.edu.cn.

PMID: 37019395
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138546

Abstract

Mxene-based catalysts with specific interfacial characteristics are beneficial for photocatalytic applications. Herein, Ti₃C₂ MXene modified ZnFe₂O₄ nanocomposite materials were prepared for photocatalysis. The morphology and structure of the nanocmposites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), which revealed that Ti₃C₂ MXene as quantum dots (QDs) was uniformly distributed on the ZnFe₂O₄ surface. The Ti₃C₂ QDs modified ZnFe₂O₄ catalyst (ZnFe₂O₄/MXene-15%) under visible light achieved 87% degradation efficiency of tetracycline within 60 min when coupled with persulfate (PS) system. The initial solution pH, PS dosage and co-existing ions were found to be the main factors affecting the heterogeneous oxidation process, while quenching experiments showed that O₂^•- is the main oxidizing species in the removal of tetracycline in ZnFe₂O₄/MXene-PS system. In addition, the cyclic experiments suggested that ZnFe₂O₄/MXene had good stability and thus it may have practical applications in industry.

Keywords: Hydrothermal treatment; Persulfate activation; Tetracycline degradation; Ti(3)C(2) MXene quantum dots; ZnFe(2)O(4)/MXene nanocomposite.

MeSH terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry
Quantum Dots*
Tetracycline / chemistry
Titanium* / chemistry

Substances

Titanium
MXene
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Tetracycline