Construction of visible-light-response photocatalysis-self-Fenton system for the efficient degradation of amoxicillin based on industrial waste red mud/CdS S-scheme heterojunction

The photo-Fenton process is recognized as an effective water treatment method due to its superior efficiency and technical feasibility, but the application of photo-Fenton is limited by the addition of Fe2+/Fe3+ and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Herein, we construct a red mud/cadmium sulfide (RM/CdS) S-scheme heterojunction photocatalysis-self-Fenton system with decorating Aluminum oxide plant waste RM particles on the surface of CdS nanospheres, which can generate H2O2 in situ and simultaneously activate H2O2 to produce hydroxyl radicals (OH) active species, exhibiting efficient degradation of amoxicillin (AMX) antibiotic pollutant under visible light irradiation. Moreover, the formation of RM/CdS S-scheme heterojunction promotes the spatial separation of the charge carriers by the built-in electric field (IEF) at the interface between RM and CdS. This research presents a novel design route for the construction of S-scheme photocatalysis-self-Fenton system in the efficient treatment of wastewater based on the industrial wastes.