Biochar-TiO2 magnetic nanocomposites for photocatalytic solar-driven removal of antibiotics from aquaculture effluents. (15th September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Silva, Carla Patrícia; Pereira, Diogo; Calisto, Vânia; Martins, Manuel A.; Otero, Marta; Esteves, Valdemar I.; Lima, Diana L.D.
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental management. Volume 294(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-09-15
• Subjects: Synthetic photocatalysts -- Photodegradation -- Carbonaceous nanocomposites -- Water treatment -- Waste valorization; Environmental policy -- Periodicals; Environmental management -- Periodicals; Environment -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Periodicals; 363.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112937
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-4797

Abstract

Abstract: Contamination of surrounding waters with antibiotics by aquaculture effluents can be problematic due to the possible increase of bacterial resistance, making it crucial the efficient treatment of those effluents before their release into the environment. In this work, the application of waste-based magnetic biochar/titanium dioxide (BC/TiO2 ) composite materials on the photodegradation of two antibiotics widely used in aquaculture (sulfadiazine (SDZ) and oxolinic acid (OXA)) was assessed. Four materials were synthesized: BCMag (magnetized BC), BCMag_TiO2 (BCMag functionalized with TiO2 ), BC_TiO2 _MagIn and BC_TiO2 _MagEx (BC functionalized with TiO2 and afterwards magnetized by in-situ and ex-situ approaches, respectively). SDZ half-life time ( t 1/2 ) noticeably decreased 3.9 and 3.4 times in presence of BCMag_TiO2 and BC_TiO2 _MagEx, respectively. In the case of OXA, even though differences were not so substantial, the produced photocatalysts also allowed for a decrease in t 1/2 (2.6 and 1.7 times, in presence of BCMag_TiO2 and BC_TiO2 _MagEx, respectively). Overall, the here synthesized BC/TiO2 magnetic nanocomposites through a circular economy process are promising photocatalysts for a sustainable solar-driven removal of antibiotics from aquaculture effluents. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Novel waste-based magnetic biochar/titanium dioxide composite materials were produced. SDZ t 1/2 decreased from 11.2 ± 0.5 h (no catalyst) to 2.9 ± 0.1 h (presence of BCMag_TiO2 ). OXA t 1/2 decreased from 1.21 ± 0.08 h (no catalyst) to 0.46 ± 0.01 (presence of BCMag_TiO2 ). A considerable SDZ mineralization was achieved using BCMag_TiO2 (70 ± 2%, after 32 h). After 32 h and in presence of BCMag_TiO2, OXA mineralization was 65 ± 1%.