Photocatalytic degradation of azithromycin formulation in aqueous solution by doped titanium dioxide/fiberglass-rubberized silicone photocatalytic membrane

Abstract The objective of this work was to develop a novel photocatalytic membrane for the photocatalytic degradation of azithromycin formulation from aqueous solutions which, in addition to a high photocatalytic activity, should have a good mechanical and physico-chemical stability over time. Thus, the Nb-TiO 2 and Nb-Fe-TiO 2 photocatalysts were prepared by the solution combustion synthesis method, and then they were manually embedded in a fiberglass – rubberized silicone support. The mineralogical, morphological, and structural characterization of the obtained materials showed that both niobium and iron replace titanium in the titanium dioxide network, thus confirming the synthesis of new photocatalysts. The results of the photocatalytic oxidation tests showed a good photocatalytic activity of the developed photocatalytic membranes (degradation efficiency of up to 70% in the first 15 min of irradiation), this being on the one hand attributed to the increase of the specific surface of the photocatalyst by introducing niobium into the photocatalyst structure, and on the other hand due to the triggering of the Fenton photo oxidation mechanism due to the presence of trivalent iron in the photocatalyst structure. Also, the results indicated an excellent mechanical and physico-chemical resistance of the photocatalytic membranes, they are being practically inert to the harsh conditions in the photocatalytic reactor.