H2Ti3O7 Nanotubes Decorated with Silver Nanoparticles for Photocatalytic Degradation of Atenolol

The photocatalytic degradation/adsorption process of the beta-blocker atenolol (ATL) under UV irradiation is described using two types of silver decorated catalysts: silver/titania and silver/titanates. The silver ions were reduced on the surface of TiO2-P25-Degussa using gallic acid. Silver/titanates were prepared by a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method using the silver/titania as the starting material to obtain the hydrogen titanate (H2Ti3O7) structure with tubular morphology. These materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, UV-Vis spectroscopy, N-2 physisorption, temperature programmed reduction, TEM, and FTIR spectroscopy. During the photocatalytic process, the ATL molecules were completely converted to amino-diol byproducts. It is the first time that these materials have been applied during the photocatalytic process in the degradation of pharmaceuticals products. The success of the silver nanoparticles (2 nm) consists of the homogeneous distribution over the surface of titanate nanotubes inhibiting the hole/electron recombination promoting the oxidation process. The Ag@H2Ti3O7 with a concentration of silver as 1.0% shows the highest adsorption/degradation of ATL than the Ag@TiO2 and the P25-Degussa. The great performance in the reuse test consists in the strong attachment of the silver nanoparticles on the titanium surface that inhibits the silver lixiviation during the photocatalytic tests.