A novel Ag/Bi/Bi2O2CO3 photocatalyst effectively removes antibiotic-resistant bacteria and tetracycline from water under visible light irradiation

• Published in: Environmental research 2025-01, Vol.264 (Pt 1), p.120313, Article 120313
• Main Authors: Wang, Suo, Li, Changyu, Yin, Huanshun, Gao, Bin, Yu, Zhengkun, Zhou, Yunlei, Wang, Jun, Xu, Hongxia, Wu, Jichun, Sun, Yuanyuan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ag/Bi/Bi2O2CO3 photocatalyst; Antibiotic-resistant bacteria; Heterojunction; Tetracycline; Visible light responsive photocatalysis
• ISSN: 0013-9351; 1096-0953; 1096-0953
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.120313

Currently, achieving dual applications of Bi2O2CO3-based photocatalysts in photocatalytic degradation and sterilization under visible-light conditions is challenging. In this study, a novel Ag/Bi/Bi2O2CO3 visible-light photocatalyst with bimetallic doping and rich oxygen vacancies was successfully synthesized using a one-pot hydrothermal crystallization method. The existence of oxygen vacancies was verified by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Electron spin resonance (ESR) analysis. The experimental results showed that Ag/Bi/Bi2O2CO3 killed ∼100% (log 7) of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli (AR-E. coli) within 60 min and degraded 83.81% of tetracycline (TC) within 180 min under visible light irradiation. Moreover, Ag/Bi/Bi2O2CO3 can still remove 61.07% of TC in water after 5 cycles, showing excellent photocatalytic cycle stability and reusability. The possible degradation pathway of TC was determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. It was found that the main active substances in the photocatalytic disinfection of AR-E. coli were 1O2, h+, and ·OH, while 1O2 was the dominant active species in the photocatalytic degradation of TC. This study presents a promising Bi2O2CO3-based visible light photocatalyst for treating both antibiotics (TC) and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (AR-E. coli) in water. [Display omitted] •A novel Ag/Bi/Bi2O2CO3 visible light photocatalyst was successfully synthesized.•Modifications of Ag/Bi metal and OVs improve the photocatalytic activity.•Ag/Bi/Bi2O2CO3 exhibited high photoactivity for AR-E. coli & TC removal.•1O2 played the most dominant role in both disinfection and degradation.