Enhanced-photoreduction deposition of Ag over sono-dispersed C_3N_4-Clinoptilolite used as nanophotocatalyst for efficient photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline antibiotic under simulated solar-light

摘要

Ag/C3N4-Clinoptilolite nano-photocatalyst with a high activity was synthesized by ultrasound energy and employed in the photocatalytic removal of the tetracycline from aqueous solutions. XRD, FESEM, EDX, BET and FTIR analyses revealed that C3N4-Clinoptilolite was successfully synthesized with efficient dispersion of Ag nanoparticles. DRS analysis indicated that the loading of Ag nanoparticles increased the absorption intensity in the simulated solar-light region due to of the surface plasmon resonance and decreased the band gap which made the composite to utilize more solar spectrum. Therefore, the Ag/C3N4-Clinoptilolite nano-photocatalyst displayed an excellent photocatalytic activity under simulated solar light irradiation. Approximately 90% of the antibiotic tetracycline in aqueous solution was decomposed after 3 h by this nano-photocatalyst, while only 73%, 68%, 58.5% of the pollutant was removed using Ag-C3N4, C3N4-Clinoptilolite, and C3N4, respectively. The effects of pH, the loading of nano-photocatalyst and tetracycline concentration on photodegradation efficiency were evaluated. Also, the appropriate stability after 4 runs observed for Ag/C3N4-Clinoptilolite nano-photocatalyst.