Photocatalytic Degradation of Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics in Solution by Au@ZnO-rGO-gC3N4 Composites

The photocatalytic degradation of two quinolone-type antibiotics (ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin) in aqueous solution was studied, using catalysts based on ZnO nanoparticles, which were synthesized by a thermal procedure. efficiency subsequently optimized incorporating different co-catalysts gC3N4, reduced graphene oxide, nanoparticles gold. fully characterized electron microscopy (TEM SEM), XPS, XRD, Raman, BET surface area. most efficient catalyst 10%Au@ZnONPs-3%rGO-3%gC3N4, obtaining degradations both pollutants above 96%. This has the largest specific area, its activity related to synergistic effect, involving factors such as material ability absorb radiation visible region, mainly produced incorporation rGO gC3N4 semiconductor. use scavengers during catalytic process, used establish possible photodegradation mechanism antibiotics.