Preparation of Eu2O3/BiOBr for efficient photocatalytic thiamethoxam from aqueous solution

Thiamethoxam is a highly effective pesticide that is utilized all over the world. It must be removed from water since it is hazardous to aquatic life and bio-accumulative. Photocatalysis is a popular method to remove pollutants. Here, the solvothermal approach was used to create the photocatalytic composite based on Eu 2 O 3 and BiOBr. SEM, XRD, and photoluminescence spectroscopy were used to characterize the composite's structure and determine its characteristics. The effects of Eu 2 O 3 loading, solution pH, and dosage of catalysts on the degradation efficiency were tested. The best removal results were occurred when 1.0 g/L of Eu 2 O 3 /BiOBr with 1 mol% of Eu 2 O 3 loading on BiOBr was added. Approximately 81.9% of thiamethoxam was degraded within 120 min under UV irradiation. A wide pH range was suitable for the catalytic process. Additionally, Eu 2 O 3 /BiOBr can be recycled six times without obviously losing catalytic activity. Scavenging experiments demonstrated that the primary active species in the photocatalytic degradation of thiamethoxam was hydroxyl radicals, and a potential photocatalytic process was hypothesized in light of the scavenging experiment findings. The materials created for this investigation showed potential uses for pesticides' quick removal.