Abstract
In this paper, spherical-shaped pure phase djurleite (Cu31S16) and roxbyite (Cu7S4) nanoparticles were prepared by a solvothermal decomposition of copper(II) dithiocarbamate complex in dodecanthiol (DDT). The reaction temperature was used to control the phases of the samples, which were represented as Cu31S16 (120 °C), Cu31S16 (150 °C), Cu7S4 (220 °C), and Cu7S4 (250 °C) and were characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), and absorption spectroscopy. The samples were used as photocatalysts for the degradation of tetracycline (TC) under visible light irradiation. The results of the study showed that Cu7S4 (250 °C) exhibited the best activity in the reaction system with the TC degradation rate of up to 99% within 120 min of light exposure, while the Cu31S16 (120 °C) system was only 46.5% at the same reaction condition. In general, roxbyite Cu7S4 (250 °C) could be considered as a potential catalyst for the degradation of TC in solution.
Highlights
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These antibiotics could be divided into aminoglycosides, quinolone, sulfonamides, macrolides, and tetracycline based on their structures [2]
As the reaction temperature was increased to 180 ◦ C, the diffraction peaks of basecentered monoclinic Cu7 S4 could be observed at 2θ = 26.53, 37.53, 46.50, and 48.72◦, showing that the roxbyite, syn phase of copper sulfide was beginning to form and may be generated at higher temperature
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. They can lead to the development of multi-resistant bacterial strains, which cannot be treated with the common known drugs [11,12] These possible risks make it of great importance to explore feasible and cost-effective techniques for the removal of TC. The earth-abundance nature of its constituent elements makes it a very promising candidate for the fabrication of devices [31] Another interesting properties of copper sulfide is its existence in variable stoichiometries. This makes it a very interesting compound for fundamental studies, possessing different band-gap energies and electronic properties. 7S5) were used as photocatalysts for the degradation of tetracycline in aqueous solution
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