Synthesis of Cu3P/SnO2 composites for degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride in wastewater

Abstract

Antibiotic drugs have become dominating organic pollutants in water resources, and efficient removal of antibiotic drugs is the priority task to protect the water environment. Cu₃P/SnO₂ photocatalysts of various Cu₃P loadings (10–40 wt% Cu₃P) were synthesized using a combination of hydrothermal synthesis and a partial annealing method. Their photocatalytic activity was tested for tetracycline hydrochloride (TC-HCl) degradation under visible light irradiation. Cu₃P/SnO₂ samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N₂-adsorption, ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectra (UV-vis DRS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results showed that the p–n type heterostructure between Cu₃P and SnO₂ was successfully constructed, and addition of Cu₃P to SnO₂ could improve its photocatalytic activity at an optimized loading of 30 wt% Cu₃P. In photocatalytic degradation studies, removal rates of around 80% were found in 30 minutes of dark reaction and 140 min of photodegradation. The removal rate was superior to that of Cu₃P and SnO₂ alone under the same experimental conditions. According to trapping experiments and electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements, photogenerated holes (h⁺) and superoxide radicals ˙O₂⁻ were considered as the main oxidation species in the present system. Finally, the reuse experiments showed high stability of Cu₃P/SnO₂. This study reports Cu₃P as a cocatalyst combined with semiconductor SnO₂ to form a highly efficient heterogeneous photocatalyst for the degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride for the first time.