Preparation of 3D porous CeO2/g-C3N4 photocatalyst via facile one–step calcination for rapid removing of tetracycline

The high performance of CeO2/g–C3N4 composites were synthesized via one–step calcination process using melamine, urea and CeCl3·7H2O as starting materials and applied to the removal of tetracycline (TC) from aqueous solution under visible–light–induced photocatalytic. The as-prepared samples were characterized by XRD, FTIR, SEM, TEM, XPS, PL, BET respectively. Compared with bare g-C3N4 and bare CeO2, the as-synthesized CeO2/g–C3N4–3 composite displays a 3D porous structure constructed by nanosheets with a high surface area of 123.28 m2 g−1 and the equilibrium adsorption capacity for TC is up to 67.49 mg g−1, showing a significantly improve in structure by doping of CeO2. As a result, when 50 mg of CeO2/g–C3N4–3 photocatalyst was dispersed in 100 mL of 60 mg/L TC solution, the remove rate of TC reached 88.4% within 60 min under visible light irradiation, showing an excellent performance, which is attributed to the synergistic effect of adsorption and photocatalysis. It also shows good recyclability and stability. The radical trapping and electron spin resonance (ESR) tests manifested that the h+ radicals played the primary role in the degradation of TC, followed by ·O2− radicals.