Effect of the Modification of TiO2 with Thiourea on its Photocatalytic Activity in Doxycycline Degradation

Abstract

C,S-Doped TiO2 nanoparticles with diameter 55-85 nm were obtained by a solvothermal sol-gel method with subsequent calcination; the diameter of the component crystallites was 9-11 nm. An increase in the thiourea concentration in the reaction mixture reduced the anatase content, while increasing the particle size, specific surface area, as well as carbon and sulfur contents. The photocatalytic activity of such materials in the degradation of doxycycline upon UV irradiation depends mainly on the anatase content and mesopore surface area, while such activity upon irradiation with visible light depends mostly on the presence of carbonate and sulfate groups.