Study on the adsorption and photodegradation of ciprofloxacin using mesoporous Nd2O3/maleic hydrazide doped gC3N4 nanocomposite

• Published in: Diamond and related materials 2024-11, Vol.149, p.111586, Article 111586
• Main Authors: Shankar, Ramya, Pandiyan, Pawel, Malini, T. Pushpa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorption; Ciprofloxacin; Nd2O3/MH-gC3N4; Photodegradation; Sonication
• ISSN: 0925-9635
• DOI: 10.1016/j.diamond.2024.111586

A sonication method was used to synthesize Nd2O3 bedecked maleic hydrazide-doped gC3N4 (Nd2O3/MH-gC3N4) nanocomposite. The physicochemical properties of the nanocomposites were studied utilizing various analytical instruments, such as XRD, FTIR, HRSEM, HRTEM, EDAX, UV-DRS, XPS, BET, EIS, and Mott-Schottky analysis. Nd2O3/MH-gC3N4 nanocomposite enhanced the photocatalytic degradation of Ciprofloxacin (CIP) in aqueous solution through efficient adsorption. The degradation efficiency was improvised by optimizing various conditions which included the initial concentration of CIP solution, catalyst dosage, different photocatalysts, pH, anions, and scavenger studies. The Nd2O3/MH-gC3N4 nanocomposite degraded the organic pollutant to the level of 97.18 % within 120 min, with a rate constant of 0.02974 min−1. Scavenger analysis revealed the active involvement of reactive species during the photodegradation process. The photostability of the material was confirmed by a recyclability test. This study proposed a Z-scheme photocatalytic degradation mechanism and LC-MS analysis was used to identify the intermediate products. Furthermore, because of the high surface area (808.738 m2/g) and robust electrostatic interactions between the catalysts and CIP molecules, Nd2O3/MH-gC3N4 nanocomposite demonstrated higher adsorption and photocatalytic ability for the removal of CIP from aqueous solution. A real lake water sample analysis was also performed using a Ciplox-500 drug which confirmed the practical application of the synthesized photocatalyst. [Display omitted] •Nd2O3/MH-gC3N4 nanocomposite was synthesized using ultrasonication method.•Doping gC3N4 with oxygen containing maleic hydrazide boosted active sites and light harvesting capacity.•The photodegradation condition was optimized for the catalyst dosage, drug concentration, pH, and influence of anions.•Based on Mott Schottky analysis and scavenger studies the Z-scheme mechanism of the photocatalyst was proposed.•Nd2O3/MH-gC3N4 nanocomposite achieved 97.18 % degradation within 120 min and the real lake water sample was also analysed.