Visible light driven ZnFe2O4 for the degradation of oxytetracycline in the presence of HSO5-at semi-pilot scale and additional H2 production

초록

This study investigated the synthesis of visible light driven ZnFe2O4 for photocatalytic degradation of oxytetracycline (OTC) in a continuous flow reactor and production of hydrogen (H2). OTC is widely used as a medication and found to create severe health and environmental issues. The use of advanced characterization techniques proved successful formation of ZnFe2O4 which was found to be reusable, stable, highly crystalline, and nano-sized. The prepared ZnFe2O4 caused 60% removal of OTC and removal efficiency of the latter was promoted to 85% by adding HSO5- with ZnFe2O4 at 240 min employing reactor flow rate of 0.1 L/min and concentrations of ZnFe2O4, OTC, and HSO5- as 1.0 g/L, 20 mg/L, and 100 mg/L, respectively. The addition of HSO5 - was found to give hydroxyl radical ('OH) and sulfate radical (SO4'- ) and the latter caused degradation of OTC into degradation products. The removal of OTC was promoted by factors facilitating the rate of formation of 'OH and SO4'- . The ZnFe2O4 proved effective in photocatalytic H2 production and showed H2 production rate of 23.4 mu mol h- 1 g- 1. The results suggest that ZnFe2O4 could be used as an economically viable technology for emerging pollutants degradation and green energy production.

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