Leaf-like networks consisting of TiO2/biochar composite for enhanced adsorptive-photocatalytic treatment of antibiotic and dye

Abstract

The problematic solid-liquid separation and low light utilization of traditional powder composites have hindered the industrial application prospect of adsorptive-photocatalytic technology. In this work, a Sycamore leaf-like hierarchically porous structured TiO2/biochar composite (LBT) was synthesized via a sol-hydrothermal method. The distinctive leaf structure effectively addressed the issue of transparency while simultaneously facilitating recyclability. LBT exhibited a high removal efficiency of 95.65 % for MO under simulated sunlight, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 284.06 mg/g. The synergistic action of adsorption-photocatalysis resulted in the degradation of 74.17 % adhered MO on LBT, enabling the recyclability and reusability of the composite material. Furthermore, employing LBT achieved removal efficiency of 80.78 % and degradation of 50.21 % for CIP, respectively. This work provides a practical approach for the efficient removal of organic pollutants from water by utilizing multifunctional materials with adsorptive-photocatalytic properties.