Ag-TiO2nanoparticles for photocatalytic degradation of lomefloxacin

Abstract

AbstractThe photocatalytic activity of silver-doped TiO2 (Ag-TiO2) nanoparticles was studied by photocatalytic degradation of lomefloxacin (LMF) using a photoreactor with a mercury lamp (PHILIPS, TUV 8 W T5, Emax = 254 nm). The 1 and 2% silver-doped TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized by liquid impregnation (LI) method. The resulting nanoparticles were characterized by surface analytical methods such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The study shows 2% Ag-TiO2 nanoparticles exhibited better results (95% degradation) in 1 h for the degradation of lomeofloxacin compared to 1% Ag-TiO2 and pure TiO2. XRD analysis indicated that the crystallite size of TiO2 was 17.00 nm, while the crystallite size of 1% Ag-TiO2 and 2% Ag-TiO2 was 13.07 to 14.17 nm. TEM images show the particle size of Ag-TiO2 nanoparticles were in the range 40–45 nm in length and 10–15 nm in breadth. Pseudo-first-order rate constants were...