Fe-MOF derived Fe2O3@C modified Bi12O15Cl6 for the visible light driven photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline

Tetracyclines (TCLs) are prevalent in environmental matrices and can bypass conventional wastewater treatment systems, thereby posing risks to human health and aquatic organisms. A 2D/3D Z-scheme Bi₁₂O₁₅Cl₆/Fe₂O₃@C (BFC) (specifically BFC-II, consisting 10% Fe₂O₃@C) heterojunction photocatalyst was utilized for the degradation of TCL, under visible light. At reaction conditions (initial TCL concentration: 5 mg/L; photocatalyst dosage: 0.5 g/L; solution pH: 7; temperature: 27 ± 2 ^oC), the photocatalyst demonstrated a degradation efficiency of approximately 95% after a reaction time of 90 min, with the pseudo-first order degradation rate constant (k) of 0.0329 min^-1. This could be associated with the reduced recombination rate of photoinduced charge carriers and their improved separation efficiency. Furthermore, hydroxyl radicals were identified as the primary reactive species facilitating the photocatalytic degradation of TCL. Overall, the BFC-II offers novel aspects related to the development of bismuth oxyhalide-based photocatalysts and their modification using Fe-MOF-derived materials.