Role of active oxidative species on TiO2 photocatalysis of tetracycline and optimization of photocatalytic degradation conditions.

The optimum operating conditions for TiO2 photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline antibiotic (TC) in aqueous solution and the role of active oxidative species (AOS) from UV/TiO2 in its degradation were investigated. Response surface methodology (RSM) and central composite design (CCD) were adopted to optimize three parameters: TiO2 concentration, initial pH and UV irradiation time. Radical scavengers were added to reaction solution to assess the photocatalytic reaction mechanism of TC. The results showed that 93.1% degradation efficiency was obtained under optimum conditions established during experimentation (TiO2 concentration = 2.09 g l(-1), pH = 5.56 and t = 20.95 min). These results agree with the prediction made by the proposed model. Photocatalytic degradation of TC followed a pseudo first-order reaction rate. Photogenerated holes (h+(VB)) with minor participation from superoxide anions (O2*), were responsible for TC oxidation on TiO2, while hydroxyl radicals (*OH) played a negligible role in titania-TC oxidation.