Influence of synthesis approach on controlled microstructures and photocatalytic properties of ag/agbr-activated carbon composites on visible light degradation of tetracycline
The influence of the synthesis approach (thermal polyol and deposition–precipitation)
regarding the dispersion of Ag/AgBr nanoparticles dispersed on activated carbon prepared from
chemical impregnated pinecone (TP-AABR-ACK, and DP-AABR-ACK) was studied, to increase their
photocatalytic efficiency on the degradation of tetracycline (TC). The physicochemical characterization
evidenced the significance of the ACK catalyst promoter in enhancing controlled microstructures
(morphologies and particle size distributions), synergistic interface interaction between AABR NPs
and the carbonaceous support, and efficient photogenerated charge carriers separation within TPAABR-
ACK, and DP-AABR-ACK composites. The results revealed 92% removal of TC within
180 min under the LED visible light irradiation, which was achieved using TP-AABR-ACK when
compared to DP-AABR-ACK composite and other catalysts in this study. Such superior results
achieved with TP-AABR-ACK composite were attributed to controlled morphologies, reduced particle
size and agglomeration, improved absorptivity, and superior cooperative effect between the
AABR and ACK catalyst promoter as evidenced from SEM, EDX, TEM, UV-DRS, and electrochemical
characterizations, respectively. Furthermore, enhanced TOC removal and abundance of reactive
superoxide anion generation were achieved with the TP-AABR-ACK composite in this study.Supplementary Materials: Figure S1: Thermogravimetric analysis of ACK, DP-AABR-ACK, and
TP-AABR-ACK, Figure S2: Photocatalytic degradation efficiencies of (A) ciprofloxacin, and (B)
rhodamine B as a function of irradiation time for (a) TP-AABR-ACK, (b) DP-AABR-ACK, (c) TPAABR, (d) DP-AABR and (e) photolysis, Figure S3: Reusability test AABR-ACK nanocomposites for
the degradation of TC under LED visible light illumination, and (b) XRD patterns of the AABR-ACK
nanocomposites prior, and then afterward test.The Sasol University Collaboration Program, National Research Foundation of South Africa, the Vaal University of Technology and the Built Environment and Information Technology Department, University of Pretoria.https://www.mdpi.com/journal/catalystsam2022Chemical Engineerin
