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Journal of Photochemistry & Photobiology A: Chemistry
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jphotochem
Photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline antibiotic using new calcite/
titania nanocomposites
Nassima Belhouchet
a,b
, Boualem Hamdi
a,c , Haroun Chenchouni
d,e , Yassine Bessekhouad
c,f, ⁎
a Laboratory of Conservation and Valorization of Marine Resources, National School of Marine Science and Coastal Management (ENSSMAL), University Campus of Dely
Ibrahim, Bois des Cars, 16320, Cheraga, Algiers, Algeria
b National Center for Research on Fisheries and Aquaculture (CNDPA), 42415, Bou-Ismail, Tipaza, Algeria
c University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene (USTHB), BP 32 El Alia, 16111 Bab Ezzouar, Algiers, Algeria
d Department of Natural and Life Sciences, Faculty of Exact Sciences and Natural and Life Sciences, University of Tebessa, 12002, Tebessa, Algeria
e Laboratory of Natural Resources and Management of Sensitive Environments ‘RNAMS’, University of Oum-El-Bouaghi, 04000, Oum-El-Bouaghi, Algeria
f National Veterinary High School, ENSV, Rue Issad Abbes, 16059, Oued Smar, Algiers, Algeria
A R T I C L E I N F O
Keywords:
Calcite
TiO 2
Tetracycline antibiotic
Photocatalysis
Sol-Gel synthesis
A B S T R A C T
A new efficient photocatalyst consisting of Calcite/TiO 2 system was synthesized using Sol-Gel process and applied to the degradation of tetracycline antibiotic (TC). The CAL/TiO 2 system at various TiO 2 content was
characterized using XRD, ATR, BET, SEM-EDX and TGA techniques. Photocatalytic activities of synthesized
materials were evaluated through TC degradation under UV-light in aqueous solution. The results indicate that
the raw material consists mostly on calcite carbonate and palygorskite clay, while TiO 2 crystallized mostly in
anatase phase. The specific surface area increases from 26 to 130 m
2
. g
−1 with the content of TiO 2 . TiO 2 nanoparticles are distributed between the pores of palygorskite clay and its surface. While all CAL/TiO 2 configurations were active toward the degradation of TC molecules, CAL30 composites give the best results. The
photocatalytic process was optimized according to the catalyst content, TC initial concentration, pH of the
solution and the irradiance type. A content of 1.5 g.L
−1 of the catalyst, 50 mg.L
−1 of TC, and pH≈7 are the best
conditions for effective TC removal under UV-light. When the photocatalytic system reached 90% of TC removal,
the TOC attained 50%.
1. Introduction
Demand for clean water is growing worldwide, whereas water resources became limited due to overexploitation, pollutions and climate
change effects. Under such water scarcity in a changing world, nations
are imposed to adopt new technical management of wastewater and
water reuse. Aquaculture activity is one of the major consumers of
water which play an increasingly vital role in sustainable food production in many regions across the world [1]. Aquaculture not only
requires the supply of clean water, but also, the release of clean water
into the environment for the protection of aquatic ecosystems and the
reuse of water sources [2]. Enormous pressure is exerted from environmental control institutions worldwide for the treatment of aquaculture wastewater before water is released into natural environments
[3]. The most important factors affecting the development of fisheries
and aquaculture industries are infection diseases. Thus, the health care
of aquatic animals and the reduction of losses caused by diseases are
key factors of a successful management of aquafarming [4].
Significant increases in the global aquaculture production are associated to intensive use of antimicrobials when treating bacterial infections [5]. It was reported that 80% of antibiotics used in aquaculture
reach various hydrosystems and human bodies, causing environment
pollution and thus affecting both aquatic ecosystems and human health
[2,6]. The most widely used water treatment process in aquaculture is
the biofiltration, where biofilters maintain water quality in recirculating or closed loop systems using some fixed bacteria in its
porous medium to break down pollutants present in the wastewater
stream [2,7]. As the heart of the biofilter is bacteria, extreme caution
must be taken to prevent the biofilter deterioration by killing the useful
bacteria [8]. Therefore, the use of chemicals and antibiotics for such
activity should be limited or used without harming the biofilter useful
bacteria, nor aquatic organisms nor ecosystem integrity. Hence, it is
important to find new and/or more efficient processes to purify wastewater charged with antibiotics and/or other pollutants in order to
lengthen lifetime and efficiency of biofilters.
Nowadays, it is well confirmed that advanced oxidation processes
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2018.12.016
Received 16 July 2018; Received in revised form 2 December 2018; Accepted 13 December 2018
⁎ Corresponding author at: University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene (USTHB), BP 32 El Alia, 16111 Bab Ezzouar, Algiers, Algeria
E-mail address: ybessekhouad@yahoo.fr (Y. Bessekhouad).
Journal of Photochemistry & Photobiology A: Chemistry 372 (2019) 196–205
Available online 14 December 2018
1010-6030/ © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
T
Journal of Photochemistry & Photobiology A: Chemistry
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jphotochem
Photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline antibiotic using new calcite/
titania nanocomposites
Nassima Belhouchet
a,b
, Boualem Hamdi
a,c , Haroun Chenchouni
d,e , Yassine Bessekhouad
c,f, ⁎
a Laboratory of Conservation and Valorization of Marine Resources, National School of Marine Science and Coastal Management (ENSSMAL), University Campus of Dely
Ibrahim, Bois des Cars, 16320, Cheraga, Algiers, Algeria
b National Center for Research on Fisheries and Aquaculture (CNDPA), 42415, Bou-Ismail, Tipaza, Algeria
c University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene (USTHB), BP 32 El Alia, 16111 Bab Ezzouar, Algiers, Algeria
d Department of Natural and Life Sciences, Faculty of Exact Sciences and Natural and Life Sciences, University of Tebessa, 12002, Tebessa, Algeria
e Laboratory of Natural Resources and Management of Sensitive Environments ‘RNAMS’, University of Oum-El-Bouaghi, 04000, Oum-El-Bouaghi, Algeria
f National Veterinary High School, ENSV, Rue Issad Abbes, 16059, Oued Smar, Algiers, Algeria
A R T I C L E I N F O
Keywords:
Calcite
TiO 2
Tetracycline antibiotic
Photocatalysis
Sol-Gel synthesis
A B S T R A C T
A new efficient photocatalyst consisting of Calcite/TiO 2 system was synthesized using Sol-Gel process and applied to the degradation of tetracycline antibiotic (TC). The CAL/TiO 2 system at various TiO 2 content was
characterized using XRD, ATR, BET, SEM-EDX and TGA techniques. Photocatalytic activities of synthesized
materials were evaluated through TC degradation under UV-light in aqueous solution. The results indicate that
the raw material consists mostly on calcite carbonate and palygorskite clay, while TiO 2 crystallized mostly in
anatase phase. The specific surface area increases from 26 to 130 m
2
. g
−1 with the content of TiO 2 . TiO 2 nanoparticles are distributed between the pores of palygorskite clay and its surface. While all CAL/TiO 2 configurations were active toward the degradation of TC molecules, CAL30 composites give the best results. The
photocatalytic process was optimized according to the catalyst content, TC initial concentration, pH of the
solution and the irradiance type. A content of 1.5 g.L
−1 of the catalyst, 50 mg.L
−1 of TC, and pH≈7 are the best
conditions for effective TC removal under UV-light. When the photocatalytic system reached 90% of TC removal,
the TOC attained 50%.
1. Introduction
Demand for clean water is growing worldwide, whereas water resources became limited due to overexploitation, pollutions and climate
change effects. Under such water scarcity in a changing world, nations
are imposed to adopt new technical management of wastewater and
water reuse. Aquaculture activity is one of the major consumers of
water which play an increasingly vital role in sustainable food production in many regions across the world [1]. Aquaculture not only
requires the supply of clean water, but also, the release of clean water
into the environment for the protection of aquatic ecosystems and the
reuse of water sources [2]. Enormous pressure is exerted from environmental control institutions worldwide for the treatment of aquaculture wastewater before water is released into natural environments
[3]. The most important factors affecting the development of fisheries
and aquaculture industries are infection diseases. Thus, the health care
of aquatic animals and the reduction of losses caused by diseases are
key factors of a successful management of aquafarming [4].
Significant increases in the global aquaculture production are associated to intensive use of antimicrobials when treating bacterial infections [5]. It was reported that 80% of antibiotics used in aquaculture
reach various hydrosystems and human bodies, causing environment
pollution and thus affecting both aquatic ecosystems and human health
[2,6]. The most widely used water treatment process in aquaculture is
the biofiltration, where biofilters maintain water quality in recirculating or closed loop systems using some fixed bacteria in its
porous medium to break down pollutants present in the wastewater
stream [2,7]. As the heart of the biofilter is bacteria, extreme caution
must be taken to prevent the biofilter deterioration by killing the useful
bacteria [8]. Therefore, the use of chemicals and antibiotics for such
activity should be limited or used without harming the biofilter useful
bacteria, nor aquatic organisms nor ecosystem integrity. Hence, it is
important to find new and/or more efficient processes to purify wastewater charged with antibiotics and/or other pollutants in order to
lengthen lifetime and efficiency of biofilters.
Nowadays, it is well confirmed that advanced oxidation processes
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2018.12.016
Received 16 July 2018; Received in revised form 2 December 2018; Accepted 13 December 2018
⁎ Corresponding author at: University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene (USTHB), BP 32 El Alia, 16111 Bab Ezzouar, Algiers, Algeria
E-mail address: ybessekhouad@yahoo.fr (Y. Bessekhouad).
Journal of Photochemistry & Photobiology A: Chemistry 372 (2019) 196–205
Available online 14 December 2018
1010-6030/ © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
T