Enhancement of Visible-Light Photocatalytic Degradation of Tetracycline by Co-Doped TiO Templated by Waste Tobacco Stem Silk.

In this study, Co-doped TiO was synthesized using waste tobacco stem silk (TSS) as a template via a one-pot impregnation method. These samples were characterized using various physicochemical techniques such as N adsorption/desorption analysis, diffuse reflectance UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. The synthesized material was used for the photodegradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) under visible light (420-800 nm). No strong photodegradation activity was observed for mesoporous TiO synthesized using waste TSS as a template, mesoporous Co-doped TiO, or TiO. In contrast, Co-doped mesoporous TiO synthesized using waste TSS as a template exhibited significant photocatalytic degradation, with 86% removal of TCH. Moreover, owing to the unique chemical structure of Ti-O-Co, the energy gap of TiO decreased. The edge of the absorption band was redshifted, such that the photoexcitation energy for generating electron-hole pairs decreased. The electron-hole separation efficiency improved, rendering the microstructured biotemplated TiO a much more efficient catalyst for the visible-light degradation of TCH.