Degradation of recalcitrant organic pollutants by modified TiO2 photocatalysts

Non-metallic C, N, and S doped TiO 2 materials were prepared using the hydrothermal method from titanyl sulfate solution with different doped precursors. The influence of non-metallic elements on crystal structure, morphology, surface area, bonding state, and light absorption ability of materials was studied through XRD, SEM, BET spectra, and UVis - DRS. The formation of new Ti-O-C, O-N-Ti bonds, the insertion of non-metallic elements into the TiO 2 crystal lattice, or the replacement of Ti 4+ with S 6+ has created a redshift in the bandgap energy of the material doping. The increase in the specific surface area of the doped materials is their enhanced photocatalytic activity. The results demonstrate that the C, N, and S co-doped TiO 2 (TH-TiO 2 ) material has the best action for degrading tetracycline (TC) antibiotics.