Preparation and properties of visible light responsive Y3+ doped Bi5Nb3O15 photocatalysts for Ornidazole decomposition.

Nanoparticle of Bi(5)Nb(3)O(15) doped with Y(3+) was prepared for the first time by the sol-gel method combined with impregnation. The degradation of Ornidazole reacting with Y(3+)-Bi(5)Nb(3)O(15) was investigated to explore the feasibility of using Y(3+)-Bi(5)Nb(3)O(15) to treat antibiotics in wastewater. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectrum and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results showed that the Y(3+)-Bi(5)Nb(3)O(15) exhibited single-crystalline orthorhombic structure with small particle size (20-100 nm); additionally, its UV-vis absorbance edges significantly shift to the visible-light region. The as-prepared nanoparticles exhibited a high photocatalytic activity in the decomposition of Ornidazole and several possible pathways of degradation of Ornidazole were proposed according to the results of ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.