A novel biochar-composed TiO 2 (BC-Ti) for efficient photocatalytic degradation on arbidol

Improper and inadequate treatment of Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) is currently a serious environmental problem, while photocatalysis is a rapidly developed and highly efficient treatment for PPCPs wastewater. A novel biochar-doped TiO 2 photocatalyst (BC -Ti) prepared by the sol - gel method had exceptional activity and high photocatalytic performance on abidol (ABD) removal. The removal capacity of arbidol on the synthesized photocatalyst was up to 76 % shortly after 20 min UV lighting, which was 8 % and 52 % higher than that on commercial TiO 2 and biochar, respectively (50 mg/L photocatalyst, pH = 6.77, ABD concentration = 20 mg/L). ABD removal rate increased continuously and could be over 90 % after 5 h irradiation. This reaction was well fitted to the Langmuir - Hinshelwood (L - H) kinetics model. The excellent reusability and stability were verified through six recycling experiments (only ca. 6 % removal reduction compared to the original one), which proved the economic viability of the catalyst. The analysis of SEM-EDS, BET, XRD, EIS, UV - vis DRS and PL verified an efficient biochar doping on the produced TiO 2 and provided an explanation for the excellent photocatalytic performance of BC -Ti. & sdot; O 2 - was proved to play important role on ABD removal through trapping test. The inferred structures of photocatalysis products and probable degradation pathways of arbidol were also analyzed via LC -MS and TOC which indicated a successful ABD decomposition. Partial ABD was converted into mineralized carbon (CO 2 ) and the remaining photocatalysis products in solution were small molecule substances with low toxicity. This work paves the way for development a novel carbon -based photocatalyst and is conducive to PPCPs wastewater purification.