Fe, Mn-Prussian blue analogue@MXene composites for efficient photocatalytic peroxydisulfate-activated degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride and photoelectrochemical desalination

The utilization of wastewater or saline as a source of clean and safe freshwater is a potential solution to address water pollution and scarcity. In this study, we synthesized a composite material, i. e. Fe, Mn-Prussian blue analogue@MXene, which is highly responsive to visible light and serves as an innovative activator for peroxydisulfate (PDS) in the degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH). The [email protected] composite, with its unique metal-organic framework (MOF) structure, exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity in the degradation of TCH by activating PDS through dual redox cycles of Mn(II)–C≡N–Fe(III) and Mn(III)–C≡N–Fe(II). A remarkable 93.41% removal of TCH can be achieved at a concentration of 30 mg·L−1 within 120 min. The presence of MXene in the composite may facilitate the efficient electron transportation owing to its excellent conductivity. The influences of various reaction conditions are also investigated, such as the concentration of potassium persulfate (KPS), TCH concentration, and solution pH value. Electron spin resonance (ESR) analysis and trapping experiments revealed the presence of reactive species, including 1O2, ∙OH, and h+, in the [email protected]/visible light/PDS system. Furthermore, we demonstrated the application of the [email protected] composite as the photoanode of a solar-assisted photoelectrochemical desalination (SA-PED) device, which combines the TCH degradation with photoelectrochemical desalination. This novel approach enabled simultaneous degradation and desalination, resulting in a significant reduction of 4000-ppm brine to 240 ppm (lower than the freshwater threshold of 500 ppm), with a salt removal efficiency (SRE) of 94.00%. Meanwhile, the degradation rate of TCH (900 mg·L−1) reached up to 98.91% under visible light irradiation. This work not only provides valuable insights into the development of PDS-activated catalysts but also explores new avenues for the multifunctional application of photocatalysts in addressing water pollution and scarcity.