Experimental investigation into the π-conjugated HT-g-C3N4/MoS2 (X) evokes the electron transport in type-II heterojunction to achieve high photocatalytic antibiotic removal under visible-light irradiation

• Published in: Separation and purification technology 2022-07, Vol.292, p.121028, Article 121028
• Main Authors: Govinda raj, Muniyandi, Vijayakumar, Elayaperumal, Preetha, Rajaraman, Narendran, Moorthy Gnanasekar, Abigail Jennifer, G, Varathan, Elumalai, Neppolian, Bernaurdshaw, Ganesh, Vatti Kondala, John Bosco, Aruljothy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amoxicillin; Antibiotics; Ciprofloxacin; Hazardous; HT-g-C3N4/MoS2; Wastewater
• ISSN: 1383-5866; 1873-3794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2022.121028

Schematic Representation for Synthesis of HT-g-C3N4/MoS2 (X) nanocomposites. [Display omitted] •A simple hydrothermal technique was ued to make the HT-g-C3N4/MoS2 nanocomposite.•The HT-g-C3N4/MoS2(3%) nanocomposite, in particular, has superior photocatalytic activity against CIP (93.15%) and AMX (95.40%) degradations within one hour.•The type-II heterojunction HT-g-C3N4/MoS2 has been demonstrated.•The catalytic mechanism and degradation pathways of CIP and AMX were hypothesised using LC-MS data. Antibiotics have been recently discovered in the aquatic environment, generating significant concerns. It is critical to create visible light semiconductor photocatalysts with high catalytic activity to use sunlight for antibiotic degradation. Herein, A one-pot hydrothermal technique was used to fabricate the nanocomposites. The HT-g-C3N4/MoS2 (X) (X = 1, 3, 5, 7%) (H represents Protonation and T represents Thermal-decomposition) nanocomposites were used to investigate the photocatalytic degradation performance of Ciprofloxacin and Amoxicillin antibiotics. The superior photocatalytic activity of HT-g-C3N4/MoS2 is due to the electron-transfer between the g-C3N4 and MoS2 nanosheets, which promotes the formation of photogenerated e−/h + pairs. The HT-g-C3N4/MoS2 (3%) nanocomposites have superior photocatalytic activity towards antibiotic degradation than raw and other composites. After five cycles, the degradation percentage exceeded 93% for Ciprofloxacin and 92% for Amoxicillin. Trapping experiments identified superoxide anion radicals and Hydroxyl radicals as the main active species during the degradation process. After 60 min, the Total organic compound (TOC) of Ciprofloxacin and Amoxicillin mineralization value was 76 and 81% for HT-g-C3N4/MoS2 (3%) nanocomposites, respectively. The intermediates were identified, and a potential route for photodegradation of Ciprofloxacin and Amoxicillin was proposed using LC-MS analysis. This research provides insight into the HT-g-C3N4/MoS2 (3%) mechanism and pathways for antibiotic degradation.