Photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline antibiotic using nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide-supported titania/platinum nanoparticles

Abstract Tetracycline, a broad-spectrum antibiotic, is particularly concerning as it is resistant to degradation in water bodies, leading to its persistence in the environment. Herein, the photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline was investigated by a newly developed catalyst of TiO2/Pt nanoparticles, which were immobilized on nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide (NRGO). Pt/TiO2@NRGO catalyst was prepared via a convenient pyrolytic route of mixing citric acid/urea/titanium (IV) isopropoxide as the starting materials with the subsequent deposition of Pt nanoparticles by chemical reduction of Pt (IV). Photocatalytic activity of the prepared nanocomposite was evaluated in the decomposition of tetracycline. The obtained results demonstrated the exemplary performance of the prepared heterogeneous catalyst by which the antibiotic removal efficiency was calculated to be ~81%. In conclusion, it can be claimed that the outstretched catalyst is able to be employed in the temperature of about 45 °C and neutral pH ranges for efficient degradation of tetracycline.