H2O2-assisted Bi3NbO7 loaded on porous carbon for enhancing the photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline

Bi 3 NbO 7 loaded on porous carbon (BNO/PC) composite materials has been prepared by the in-suit sol-gel method. The photocatalytic efficacy of the BNO/PC composite has been evaluated by degrading tetracycline (TC) in an environment of visible light and hydrogen peroxide. Moreover, the relevant influencing factors of TC degradation efficiency have been explored through a series of condition optimization experiments. UV–vis DRS and PL tests showed that the loading on porous carbon significantly broadens the visible light response range of the catalyst and improves the separation efficiency of photogenerated carriers. Compared with the bare BNO, the specific surface area and average pore diameter of the BNO/PC composite material increased greatly. The optimal sample of 35 % BNO/PC exhibited outstanding visible light response ability and excellent charge separation efficiency. The “cata + H 2 O 2 +vis” system had the highest photocatalytic activity, with TC degradation reaching 86.9 % after 60 min of visible light illumination. The addition of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) promoted the formation of more powerful active substances. Following this, a mechanism for photocatalytic degradation has been proposed.