Synthesis of carbon-metal interface ilmenite type nanostructures using ultrasonication-assisted sol-gel process for visible-light-driven hydrogen production from methanol and antibiotic wastewater removal

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds 2024-10, Vol.1002, p.175382, Article 175382
• Main Authors: Mohamed, Mohamed Jaffer Sadiq, Gondal, Mohammed A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibiotic; Biowaste carbon; Hydrogen production; Perovskites; Photocatalysts
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2024.175382

In this study, a new carbon-metal (C-Ti) interface was synthesized by chemically connecting perovskite ilmenite-type (FeTiO) nanostructures with carbon produced from biowaste (BC) using a simple sol-gel process assisted by ultrasonication. This interface can use visible light to produce hydrogen from hydrocarbons (methanol solution) and remove the antibiotic ciprofloxacin (CIF) from wastewater. Following optimization, BC15@FeTiO nanostructures displayed the highest visible light active photocatalytic hydrogen generation rate of 415.43 μmol·h−1·g−1. Furthermore, these nanostructures removed the CIF rate at 91.09 % for 120 minutes. The efficient electron transfer between BC and FeTiO via the chemically connected C-Ti interface promotes the formation of visible-light active photocatalytic hydrogen generation from methanol and the removal of antibiotic CIF into innocuous byproducts. This study also offers a new, low-cost carbon material made chemically from biowaste. [Display omitted] •C-Ti interface was created by chemically linking biowaste-derived carbon with FeTiO perovskite.•Interface is applied for visible-light hydrogen generation from hydrocarbons (methanol).•Synthesized catalyst is applied for antibiotic ciprofloxacin removal from wastewater.•BC15@FeTiO exhibited highest rate as visible-light active photocatalytic for hydrogen production.•These nanostructures achieved a CIF elimination efficiency of 91.09 % for 120 minutes.