Enhancing wastewater treatment: Photocatalytic performance of ZnO/ Ag3PO4 heterostructures under solar radiation against dyes and antibiotic

Author(s)

Silva, Joyce M. P. ; Andrade Neto, Nivaldo F. ; Juliao, Rafaela S. ; Teodoro, Marcio D. ; Bomio, Mauricio R. D. ; Motta, Fabiana, V

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Journal of Alloys and Compounds; v. 1030, p. 15-pg., 2025-05-14.

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of ZnO/Ag3PO4 heterostructure formation on the photocatalytic properties under solar radiation against the dyes methylene blue (MB) and crystal violet (CV), both cationic, and methyl orange (MO), anionic. Additionally, the photocatalytic activity was tested against the antibiotic tetracycline (TC). Besides analyzing the variation in absorption bands after the photocatalytic test, the resulting TC solution was tested in contact with E. coli and S. aureus bacteria. The photocatalytic results showed that the heterostructures exhibit higher efficiency against MB and CV dyes compared to MO. The photocatalytic tests on TC demonstrated that the heterostructures effectively degrade the antibiotic, rendering it ineffective in inhibiting the growth of E. coli and S. aureus after the treatment. Also, complementary results indicate that the heterostructures correspond to a n-n junction. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 22/10340-2 - Scientific MUE: acquisition of a high temporal, spatial and spectral resolution fluorescence system operating over a wide temperature range
• Grantee: Gilmar Eugenio Marques
• Support Opportunities: Research Infrastructure Program - Scientific