Highly efficient adsorption assisted photocatalytic decontamination of metronidazole by Co3O4 doped graphitic carbon nitrides

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Since traditional wastewater treatment techniques only partially remove antibiotics like metronidazole (MTZ), the rising use of these drugs causes their entry into wastewater and receiving surface waterways. A flexible method that may effectively degrade such organic pollutants is adsorption assisted photocatalytic degradation. Herein, an easy mixing-and-heating procedure was used to synthesize visible light-induced g-C3N4/Co3O4 heterojunction photocatalysts. The structural properties and morphology of as-prepared materials were measured using characterization techniques such as FTIR, FSEM, and XRD analysis. The as-prepared catalyst has demonstrated a remarkable adoption and photocatalytic performance in degrading MTZ. It was found that 0.2 weight percent of Co3O4 was the optimum amount for achieving the best photocatalytic efficiency. A key factor in boosting photo-generated carrier separation is the synergistic interaction between g-C3N4 and Co3O4. The kinetics study of MTZ adsorption and degradation as well as factors effecting such as pH (2-10) and catalyst dosage process were investigated. The functional treatment method attained 78% degradation of MTZ under the following general conditions: pH = 6, g-C3N4/Co3O4 = 0.04 g/L, and reaction time = 200 min and MTZ concentration = 20 mg/L. A possible mechanism for the photocatalytic degradation was introduced, wherein O 2 • − was found to be the leading radical, whereas h + and H O • radicals contribute moderately to the degradation process. The research presents an appealing and environmentally friendly technique for the practical remediation of waste water carrying antibiotics.