Photodegradation of aqueous tetracycline using CuS@TiO₂ composite under solar-simulated light: Complete mineralization, catalyst efficiency, and reusability

While CuS/TiO₂ has been previously synthesized and employed in a limited number of photodegradation studies, the current study investigated its effectiveness for TC degradation under UV–visible light irradiation. CuS is known to be a nontoxic, environmentally friendly material; hence, it has great p...

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Main Author: Ahed H. Zyoud
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Heliyon
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025000428
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author Ahed H. Zyoud
author_facet Ahed H. Zyoud
author_sort Ahed H. Zyoud
collection DOAJ
description While CuS/TiO₂ has been previously synthesized and employed in a limited number of photodegradation studies, the current study investigated its effectiveness for TC degradation under UV–visible light irradiation. CuS is known to be a nontoxic, environmentally friendly material; hence, it has great potential as an alternative to CdS and CdSe, which are used conventionally as sensitizers. In this work, the CuS/TiO₂ photocatalysts achieved a maximum 95 % removal of TC at an initial concentration of 20 ppm, confirming the good utilization of active sites. Even though the efficiency decreased for higher TC concentrations due to the saturation of the active sites, the values of the quantum yield showed that photon utilization was still effective. Consequently, the photocatalyst showed an optimum yield at 0.20 g, and its further addition increased the efficiency rather insignificantly. In addition to the near-complete mineralization of TC by the CuS/TiO₂ composite with few byproducts, its reusability was excellent because it showed almost consistent performance in successive cycles. These results further confirm the continuous relevance and potential of CuS/TiO₂ as a practical, sustainable solution for organic pollutant degradation, reinforcing its value in environmental remediation applications.
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spelling doaj-art-6ece4059b2924f96bd9a5a6348423c932025-02-02T05:27:57ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402025-01-01112e41662Photodegradation of aqueous tetracycline using CuS@TiO₂ composite under solar-simulated light: Complete mineralization, catalyst efficiency, and reusabilityAhed H. Zyoud0Department of Chemistry, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine; Center of Excellence in Materials Science and Nanotechnology (CEMSANT), An-Najah National University, Nablus, PalestineWhile CuS/TiO₂ has been previously synthesized and employed in a limited number of photodegradation studies, the current study investigated its effectiveness for TC degradation under UV–visible light irradiation. CuS is known to be a nontoxic, environmentally friendly material; hence, it has great potential as an alternative to CdS and CdSe, which are used conventionally as sensitizers. In this work, the CuS/TiO₂ photocatalysts achieved a maximum 95 % removal of TC at an initial concentration of 20 ppm, confirming the good utilization of active sites. Even though the efficiency decreased for higher TC concentrations due to the saturation of the active sites, the values of the quantum yield showed that photon utilization was still effective. Consequently, the photocatalyst showed an optimum yield at 0.20 g, and its further addition increased the efficiency rather insignificantly. In addition to the near-complete mineralization of TC by the CuS/TiO₂ composite with few byproducts, its reusability was excellent because it showed almost consistent performance in successive cycles. These results further confirm the continuous relevance and potential of CuS/TiO₂ as a practical, sustainable solution for organic pollutant degradation, reinforcing its value in environmental remediation applications.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025000428PhotodegradationPhotocatalystCuS/TiO₂TetracyclineSensitization
spellingShingle Ahed H. Zyoud
Photodegradation of aqueous tetracycline using CuS@TiO₂ composite under solar-simulated light: Complete mineralization, catalyst efficiency, and reusability
Heliyon
Photodegradation
Photocatalyst
CuS/TiO₂
Tetracycline
Sensitization
title Photodegradation of aqueous tetracycline using CuS@TiO₂ composite under solar-simulated light: Complete mineralization, catalyst efficiency, and reusability
title_full Photodegradation of aqueous tetracycline using CuS@TiO₂ composite under solar-simulated light: Complete mineralization, catalyst efficiency, and reusability
title_fullStr Photodegradation of aqueous tetracycline using CuS@TiO₂ composite under solar-simulated light: Complete mineralization, catalyst efficiency, and reusability
title_full_unstemmed Photodegradation of aqueous tetracycline using CuS@TiO₂ composite under solar-simulated light: Complete mineralization, catalyst efficiency, and reusability
title_short Photodegradation of aqueous tetracycline using CuS@TiO₂ composite under solar-simulated light: Complete mineralization, catalyst efficiency, and reusability
title_sort photodegradation of aqueous tetracycline using cus tio₂ composite under solar simulated light complete mineralization catalyst efficiency and reusability
topic Photodegradation
Photocatalyst
CuS/TiO₂
Tetracycline
Sensitization
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025000428
work_keys_str_mv AT ahedhzyoud photodegradationofaqueoustetracyclineusingcustio2compositeundersolarsimulatedlightcompletemineralizationcatalystefficiencyandreusability