Synthesis and characterization of rGO/Fe0/Fe3O4/TiO2 nanocomposite and application of photocatalytic process in the decomposition of penicillin G from aqueous

In this study, we synthesized rGO/Fe0/Fe3O4/TiO2 nanocomposite according to Hummer's, and straightforward sol-gel method. The FESEM, EDX, TEM, FT-IR, XRD, BET, UV spectra, and VSM analysis were applied to determine the catalyst properties. Optimization of influence parameters on photocatalytic process performance to penicillin G degradation in aqueous media. pH (4–8), nanocomposite dose (10–20 mg/L), reaction time (30–60 min), and penicillin G concentration (50–100 mg/L) were optimized via central composite design. In the optimum condition of PCP, supplementary studies were done. As a result of the analysis, the nanocomposite was well synthesized and displayed superior photocatalytic properties for degrading organic pollutants. In addition to being magnetically separable, the synthesized rGO/Fe0/Fe3O4/TiO2 nanocomposite exhibits high recyclability up to 5 times. The quadratic model of optimization is based on the adjusted R2(0.99), and predicated R2(0.97) suggested. According to the analysis of variance test, the model was significant (F-Value = 162.95, P-Value = 0.0001). Photocatalytic process is most efficiently decomposed at pH = 6.5, catalyst dose = 18.5 mg/L, reaction time = 59.1 min, and penicillin G concentration = 52 mg/L (efficiency = 96%). The chemical oxygen demand and total organic carbon decrease were 78, and 65%. The photolysis and adsorption mechanism as a single mechanism had lower performance in penicillin G degradation. Benzocaine had the greatest effect on reducing the efficiency of the process as a radical scavenger. The °OH, h+, and O2●– were the main reactive oxidant species in penicillin G removal. Phenoxyacetaldehyde, Acetanilide, Diacetamate, Phenylalanylglycine, N-Acetyl-l-phenylalanine, Diformyldapsone, and Succisulfone were the main intermediates in penicillin G degradation. The results indicated the photocatalytic process with rGO/Fe0/Fe3O4/TiO2 nanocomposite on a laboratory scale has good efficiency in removing penicillin G antibiotic. The application of real media requires further studies.