Enhancement of pyridine derivatives containing symmetrical substituents on the photocatalytic degradation of phenol and antibiotics by Er-Fe-TiO2

Eight composite photocatalysts were synthesized. Er- and Fe-doped TiO2 photocatalysts were prepared first, and their photocatalytic performance for phenol degradation was investigated. Furthermore, three pyridine derivatives and 1,10-phenanthroline were bonded to Er-Fe-TiO2, which greatly improved the efficiency and rate of photocatalytic degradation of phenol and chlortetracycline hydrochloride. The absorption spectra, fluorescence spectra, photocurrent density, impedance spectra, and ESR radical measurements of eight different photocatalysts were investigated. On this basis, combined with a discussion on the matching of the molecular orbital energy levels of pyridine derivatives and 1,10-phenanthroline with the band gap of Er-Fe-TiO2, a possible mechanism of electron transport was proposed for the photocatalysis process. We studied the degradation of chlortetracycline hydrochloride or a mixture of phenol and four antibiotics using four composite photocatalysts. The possible degradation sites of chlortetracycline hydrochloride were predicted by theoretical calculations, and some results were consistent with those detected by HPLC-MS.

Automated summary

Eight composite photocatalysts were synthesized and their photocatalytic performance for phenol and chlortetracycline hydrochloride degradation was investigated. Bonding pyridine derivatives and 1,10-phenanthroline to the photocatalysts greatly improved the degradation efficiency and rate. Analysis of absorption spectra, fluorescence spectra, photocurrent density, impedance spectra, and ESR radical measurements provided insight into the possible mechanism of electron transport during the photocatalysis process.