Synthesis of MnOOH-hydroxyapatite nanowires for degradation of tetracycline

Antibiotics are commonly present in the natural environment and pose a threat to human health due to their resistance to degradation or recycling. Therefore, finding an effective catalyst for antibiotic treatment remains a challenge. In this study, a fibrous inorganic nanocomposite, MnOOH-hydroxyapatite nanowires (MnO-HApNWs), was successfully synthesized by in-situ solvothermal method, and applied for removal of antibiotics. Tetracycline (TC), a widely used antibiotic, could be rapidly degraded with removal rates being 87.6% within 5 min, and 93.6% within 60 min, respectively. Based on nano-structure characterization, influence of key parameters, measurement of active species and analysis of degradation intermediates, the mechanism and degradation pathways of catalyze degradation was investigated. The high specific surface area and pore size of MnO-HApNWs facilitated the adsorption of TC onto its surface followed by catalytic degradation through the generation of reactive oxygen species. The scavenger experiments revealed that active radicals, such as •OH and O2•-, played a crucial role in the degradation of TC. Furthermore, MnO-HApNWs demonstrated cyclic stability and universality with over 85.1% efficiency even after 8 cycles of recycling. In summary, the prepared novel fibrous inorganic nanocomposites materials (MnO-HApNWs) exhibit exceptional catalytic performance with promising prospects for application in wastewater pollutant removal.