Degradation of doxycycline antibiotics using lanthanum copper oxide microspheres under simulated sunlight

Abstract

In this study, lanthanum copper oxide was synthesised under hydrothermal techniques and characterized for doxycycline degradation. The catalyst exhibited enhanced photocatalytic doxycycline degradation under visible light owing to its compatible bandgap energy (1.7 eV). The XRD data revealed high crystallinity of the material with no noticeable impurities. Three-dimensional microspheres of varying sizes (average diameter of 2.52μm) were observed from SEM. EDX confirms the successful synthesis of La2CuO4. The effect of DC concentration, catalyst dosage and initial pH on the degradation rate of DC was studied methodically. Interestingly, about 85% of doxycycline (10 mg/L) was degraded within 120 minutes of light emitting diode irradiation at pH 10. Oxygen vacancies and surface defects were determined through photoluminescence spectra. The recyclability experiments suggested that the catalyst is capable of degrading DC for three consecutive runs. Radical trapping trials suggested that holes (h + ), superoxide radicals ( • O2 -) and hydroxyl radicals ( • OH) are involved in the photodegradation of DC. Herein, the novel approach of La2CuO4 synthesis and the efficient visible-light harvesting capability of as-prepared catalyst reveals the potentiality for DC degradation thereby opening a new horizon of research employing La2CuO4 used for various environmental applications.

Orange peel-derived Cu2O/RGO nanocomposite: Mesoporous binary system for degradation of doxycycline in water

“…There has been a tremendous increment in the usage of pharma products in human disease treatment, livestock, and poultry farms. In India and China alone, approximately, 200,000 tons of antibiotics are consumed annually (Prabagar et al, 2022 ). However, this increased consumption of antibiotics has resulted in the increased discharge of pharma residues in the environment and has led to their bioaccumulation which are rendered harmful for all the living organisms.…”