MXene-based composite photocatalysts for efficient degradation of antibiotics in wastewater

Abstract MXene-based (nano)materials have recently emerged as promising solutions for antibiotic photodegradation from aquatic environments, yet they are limited by scalability, stability, and selectivity challenges in practical settings. We formulated Fe 2 O 3 -SiO 2 /MXene ternary nano-photocomposites via coupled wet impregnation and sonochemistry approach for optimised tetracycline (TC) removal (the second most used antibiotic worldwide) from water using response surface methodology-central composite design (RSM-CCD). The photocatalysts containing various loading of Fe 2 O 3 /SiO 2 (5–45 wt%) on the MXene with a range of calcination temperatures (300–600 °C) via RSM optimisation were synthesised, characterised regarding crystallinity properties, surface morphology, binding energy, and light absorption capability, and analysed for TC degradation efficiency. The 25FeS/MX-450 composite among all samples demonstrated a superior efficiency in TC photocatalytic removal (98%) under optimised conditions (TC degradation: 39.75 mg/L, time: 68.28 min, pH: 5.57, catalyst dosage: 0.75 g/L). The developed surface area, with a reduced band gap due to FeS nanoparticles incorporation with improved light absorption within the visible spectrum, played a crucial role in the 25FeS/MX-450 heterostructure matrix, enhancing photogenerated carriers’ separation and transportation capabilities. The tetracycline photoreduction mechanism involved electron transfer from FeS to the surface of MXene, engaging with O 2 to produce •O 2 −, attributed to the high electron mobility of MXene. Our findings for such nano-photocomposites materials can underscore the considerable potential of MXene-based nanomaterials for pharmaceutical removal from waterways.

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