Preparation of reed-based hydrothermal carbonized carbon photocatalyst and effective degradation of methylene blue and tetracycline

Hydrothermal carbonation carbon (HTCC) is a promising semiconductor material for the photocatalytic degradation of pollutants. However, the poor charge transfer capability of HTCC and the unclear mechanism of photocatalysis limit its practical application. In this study, a novel Z-type heterojunction photocatalyst of silver carbonate (Ag 2 CO 3 ) and HTCC (Ag 2 CO 3 /HTCC) was developed for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) and tetracycline (TC) from wastewater using a hydrothermal- coprecipitation method. Compared to Ag 2 CO 3 and HTCC, 40% Ag 2 CO 3 /HTCC had excellent photocatalytic activity and stability. The free radical scavenger experiments showed that •O 2 − and h + were the main substances for the degradation of MB and TC. The intermediates formed during the photodegradation were identified by HPLC–MS, and a possible mechanism and pathway for the degradation of MB and TC by Ag 2 CO 3 /HTCC was proposed. This study provides a new idea for the synthesis of Z-type HTCC heterojunction with a high-photocatalytic efficiency and its photocatalytic mechanism.