Photocatalytic degradation of antibiotic sulfamethizole by visible light activated perovskite LaZnO 3

• Published in: Journal of environmental sciences (China) 2024-10, Vol.144, p.212
• Main Authors: Huy, Bui The, Nguyen, X Cuong, Bui, Vu Khac Hoang, Tri, Nguyen Ngoc, Rabani, Iqra, Tran, Nhu Hoa Thi, Ly, Quang Viet, Truong, Hai Bang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - chemistry; Calcium Compounds - chemistry; Catalysis; Light; Models, Chemical; Oxides - chemistry; Photolysis; Sulfamethizole - chemistry; Titanium - chemistry; Water Pollutants, Chemical - chemistry
• ISSN: 1001-0742
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2023.08.004

In this work, the perovskite LaZnO was synthesized via sol-gel method and applied for photocatalytic treatment of sulfamethizole (SMZ) antibiotics under visible light activation. SMZ was almost completely degraded (99.2% ± 0.3%) within 4 hr by photocatalyst LaZnO at the optimal dosage of 1.1 g/L, with a mineralization proportion of 58.7% ± 0.4%. The efficient performance of LaZnO can be attributed to its wide-range light absorption and the appropriate energy band edge levels, which facilitate the formation of active agents such as ·O , h , and ·OH. The integration of RP-HPLC/Q-TOF-MS and DFT-based computational techniques revealed three degradation pathways of SMZ, which were initiated by the deamination reaction at the aniline ring, the breakdown of the sulfonamide moieties, and a process known as Smile-type rearrangement and SO intrusion. Corresponding toxicity of SMZ and the intermediates were analyzed by quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR), indicating the effectiveness of LaZnO -based photocatalysis in preventing secondary pollution of the intermediates to the ecosystem during the degradation process. The visible-light-activated photocatalyst LaZnO exhibited efficient performance in the occurrence of inorganic anions and maintained high durability across multiple recycling tests, making it a promising candidate for practical antibiotic treatment.