Photocatalytic degradation of COVID-19 related drug arbidol hydrochloride by Ti3C2 MXene/supramolecular g-C3N4 Schottky junction photocatalyst

Because of the current COVID-19 outbreak all over the world, the problem of antiviral drugs entering water has become increasingly serious. Arbidol hydrochloride (ABLH) is one of the most widely used drugs against COVID-19, which has been detected in sewage treatment plant sediments after the COVID-19 outbreak. However, there has been no report on the degradation of ABLH. In order to remove ABLH we prepared a novel photocatalyst composed of Ti 3 C 2 MXene and supramolecular g-C 3 N 4 (TiC/SCN) via a simple method. The properties of the material were studied by a series of characterizations (SEM, TEM, EDS, XRD, FTIR, UV–vis, DRS, XPS, TPC, PL, EIS and UPS), indicating the successful preparation of TiC/SCN. Results show that 99% of ABLH was removed within 150 min under visible light illumination by the 0.5TiC/SCN (containing 0.5% of TiC). The performance of 0.5TiC/SCN was about 2.66 times that of SCN resulting from the formation of Schottky junction. Furthermore, under real sunlight illumination, 99.2% of ABLH could be removed by 0.5TiC/SCN within 120 min, which was better than that of commercial P25 TiO 2 . The pH, anions (NO 3 − and SO 4 2− ) and dissolved organic matter (fulvic acid) could significantly affect the ABLH degradation. Moreover, three possible degradation pathways of ABLH were proposed, and the toxicities of the corresponding by-products were less toxic than ABLH. Meanwhile, findings showed that the superoxide radicals played a major role in the photocatalytic degradation of ABLH by 0.5TiC/SCN. This study provides a well understanding of the mechanism of ABLH degradation and provides a valuable reference for the treatment of ABLH in water. • A novel TiC/SCN Schottky junction photocatalyst was prepared by a simple method. • 99.2% of ABLH was removed by the 0.5TiC/SCN under real sunlight, exceeding P25 TiO 2 . • The toxicities of the by-products decreased with the photocatalytic removal process. • The superoxide radicals played a major role in the degradation of ABLH by 0.5TiC/SCN.