ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Degradation of ofloxacin by UVA-LED/TiO₂ nanotube arrays photocatalytic fuel cells

Bin Xia, Juan-juan Yao, Chen-xi Han, Zhi Zhang, Xiang-yu Chen, and Yan-juan Fang

Chongqing University, Chongqing, China

E-mail: yaojuanjuan@cqu.edu.cn

Abstract: The degradation of ofloxacin (OFX) at low concentration in aqueous solution by UVA-LED/TiO₂ nanotube arrays photocatalytic fuel cells (UVA-LED/TiO₂ NTs PFCs) was investigated. TiO₂ nanotube arrays (TiO₂ NTs) photoanode prepared by anodization-constituted anatase–rutile bicrystalline framework. The results indicated that the degradation efficiency of OFX by UVA-LED/TiO₂ NTs PFC was significantly enhanced by 14.3% compared with UVA-LED/TiO₂ NTs photocatalysis. The pH affected the degradation efficiency markedly; the highest degradation efficiency (95.0%) and the pseudo-first-order reaction rate constant k value (0.049 min⁻¹) were achieved in neutral condition (pH 7.0). The degradation efficiency increased with the increasing concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO) in the UVA-LED/TiO₂ NTs PFC. The main reactive species of OFX degradation are positive holes (h⁺) and superoxide ion radicals (O ₂ ^·− ) in a DO sufficient condition. Furthermore, the possible pathways of OFX degradation were proposed.

Keywords: TiO₂ nanotube arrays ; Photoanode ; Photocatalysis ; Ofloxacin ; Reactive species ; Degradation pathways ; Recyclability 

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-017-0285-6

Chemical Papers 72 (2) 359–368 (2018)