Application of C-doped ZnO nanostructures and materials CNF@ZnO hybrids for the degradation of the antibiotic Tetracycline

• Grant number: 23/09260-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2023
• End date: June 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Inorganic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Elson Longo da Silva
• Grantee: Júlia Mendes Farias
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07296-2 - CDMF - Center for the Development of Functional Materials, AP.CEPID

Abstract

Access to clean, contaminant-free water is one of the basic human needs. for a dynamic and sustainable society. In recent years, the quality of water resources has its quality drastically compromised as a result of anthropic actions caused by the release of so-called emerging pollutants. In particular, the presence of antibiotics in aquatic systems is identified as persistent emerging organic pollutants of intenseconcern due to adverse health effects and toxic effects to organisms. The conventional techiniques water and effluent treatment systems are ineffective for removing this class of contaminants. In this way, the development of new technologies, based on simple, low-cost and environmentally friendly methodologies that are efficient for removing antibiotics of water resources. In this sense, this project aims to develop photocatalysts based on the use of hybrid materials of CNF@ZnO and ZnO doped withcarbon (C-ZnO) for the degradation of the tetracycline antibiotic. The hybrid materials of CNF@ZnO, will be obtained by the hydrothermal route carried out in mild temperature conditions and in lower compared to those commonly investigated in the literature. For the hybrid materials of CNF@ZnO, ZnO nanostructures will be immobilized and grown in situ on the cellulose network nanofibrillated (CNF). In turn, C-ZnO will be obtained by removing the CNF template bycalcination. To our knowledge, there are no reports in the literature of the use of CNF as a template sacrificial to obtain ZnO photocatalysts applied to contaminant degradation chosen emergent. The materials obtained will be characterized by SEM-FEG, DRX, Raman, BET,UV-Vis and PL. It is expected that the proposed methodologies result in the preparation of photocatalysts sustainable and improved performance for tetracycline degradation. the choice of investigation of this specific antibiotic is due to the fact that it is listed as one of the drugs most consumed and produced worldwide, often detected in the resourceswater, in which low concentrations of the order of ¼g/L and ng/L can cause irreversible damage to theenvironment.