Photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline contaminated wastewater over Bi₂S₃/BiWO₆/rGO ternary nanocomposite under visible light irradiation

Background: The presence of contaminated drugs in waste water is an important problem for human health. In this present investigation, nowadays, more peoples widely use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like tetracycline (TC), which are hazardous pollutants due to their ecotoxicity. The elimination of these drugs from waste water is a considerable problem. Methods: Herein, a sequence of Bi₂S₃/BiWO₆/rGO ternary nanocomposites was synthesized using a simple hydrothermal strategy and assessed through structural, functional, optical, morphology, elemental and surface analysis. Additionally, the photocatalytic degradation behavior of Bi₂S₃/BiWO₆/rGO ternary nanocomposites in the degradation of TC drug was examined under visible light irradiation, and its possible photocatalytic degradation mechanism was also discussed in detail. Significant findings: Bi₂S₃/BiWO₆/rGO nanocomposites demonstrates the superior photocatalytic activity compared to Bi₂S₃/BiWO₆, Bi₂S₃, BiWO₆ and rGO photocatalysts. During 120 min, the ternary Bi₂S₃/BiWO₆/rGO nanocomposites degradation of TC drug efficiency are 86 %. Furthermore, the role of the main active species (ROS) in the TC drug was identified adding of different scavengers and photocatalytic degradation mechanism pathway, stability and reusability were also proposed in this paper. Therefore, we present a rational design concept for highly efficient photocatalysts used in environmental remediation.