Synthesis of WO3/Ag3VO4 photocatalyst applying for the treatment of amoxicillin antibiotics under visible light

Abstract

In this paper, WO₃/Ag₃VO₄ photocatalysts were successfully synthesised at various Ag₃VO₄/WO₃ mole ratios of 5, 10, 15, and 20% (WA-x). Ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectra (UV-Vis-DRS) indicated that the adsorption capacity of  WA-10 (10% Ag₃VO₄/WO₃ mole ratios) under visible light was higher than that of other materials. The photocatalytic properties of obtained materials were investigated by degradation of the antibiotic AMX under visible light irradiation. The degradation conversation of AMX had gotten to about 79.86% in WA-10 after a reaction of three hours. WO₃/Ag₃VO₄ materials were highly active than WO₃ and Ag₃VO₄ with an increase in photocatalytic activity of WO₃/Ag₃VO₄ that can be attributed to the efficient separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs.