Keywords
Tetracycline degradation
Photocatalytic efficiency
Mechanism
Submitted : 2025-01-20
Accepted : 2025-02-04
Published : 2025-02-19
Abstract
Tetracycline pollution poses an increasing global threat to both aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity due to its extensive use in aquaculture, livestock farming, and human disease prevention. In this study, pure-phase BiFeO3 was synthesized using the hydrothermal method. Various characterization techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), were employed to analyze the material’s crystal structure, surface morphology, and electron valence states. A 120-minute photocatalytic degradation experiment on tetracycline (TC) demonstrated that the pure-phase BiFeO3 achieved a degradation efficiency of approximately 27%. The primary degradation mechanism was attributed to the generation of •OH (hydroxyl radicals) during the photocatalytic reaction, with h+ (holes) playing a synergistic role. The energy band structure and photocatalytic mechanism of pure-phase BiFeO3 were further analyzed using Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-VIS-DRS). Cycling tests indicated that pure-phase BiFeO3 maintained chemical stability, highlighting its potential for large-scale applications.
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