Biochar-TiO2 magnetic nanocomposites for photocatalytic solar-driven removal of antibiotics from aquaculture effluents

authors	Silva, CP; Pereira, D; Calisto, V; Martins, MA; Otero, M; Esteves, VI; Lima, DLD
nationality	International
journal	JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
author keywords	Synthetic photocatalysts; Photodegradation; Carbonaceous nanocomposites; Water treatment; Waste valorization
keywords	OXOLINIC ACID; DEGRADATION; PHOTODEGRADATION; TIO2; SULFAMETHOXAZOLE; CARBAMAZEPINE; ADSORBENTS; ADSORPTION; COMPOSITE; WATER
abstract	Contamination of surrounding waters with antibiotics by aquaculture effluents can be problematic due to the possible increase of bacterial resistance, making it crucial the efficient treatment of those effluents before their release into the environment. In this work, the application of waste-based magnetic biochar/titanium dioxide (BC/TiO2) composite materials on the photodegradation of two antibiotics widely used in aquaculture (sulfadiazine (SDZ) and oxolinic acid (OXA)) was assessed. Four materials were synthesized: BCMag (magnetized BC), BCMag_TiO2 (BCMag functionalized with TiO2), BC_TiO2_MagIn and BC_TiO2_MagEx (BC functionalized with TiO2 and afterwards magnetized by in-situ and ex-situ approaches, respectively). SDZ half-life time (t1/2) noticeably decreased 3.9 and 3.4 times in presence of BCMag_TiO2 and BC_TiO2_MagEx, respectively. In the case of OXA, even though differences were not so substantial, the produced photocatalysts also allowed for a decrease in t1/2 (2.6 and 1.7 times, in presence of BCMag_TiO2 and BC_TiO2_MagEx, respectively). Overall, the here synthesized BC/TiO2 magnetic nanocomposites through a circular economy process are promising photocatalysts for a sustainable solar-driven removal of antibiotics from aquaculture effluents.
publisher	ACADEMIC PRESS LTD- ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
issn	0301-4797
isbn	1095-8630
year published	2021
volume	294
digital object identifier (doi)	10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112937
web of science category	8
subject category	Environmental Sciences
unique article identifier	WOS:000677924200007