Iron modification can be used to improve the photocatalytic abilities of titania, extending the useful spectrum of solar light from only the ultraviolet region into the visible region.  This investigation compared the photocatalytic ability of iron modified titania to degrade two common and overused livestock antibiotics: tetracycline and tylosin. Titania coated acrylic spheres were photocatalytically iron modified using an aqueous iron (III) nitrate/methanol solution with UV exposure.  The resulting floating spheres were then used in conjunction with 1 L of a 60 ppm tetracycline solution or a 60 ppm tylosin solution with either UV-only or solar illumination for 7 h.  Iron modified titania provided a sharp increase in the apparent tetracycline degradation rate as compared to the degradation rate of unmodified titania; attributable to the formation of stable iron-tetracycline complexes. This is supported by the observation that iron modified titania showed no significant increase in the rate of degradation of tylosin, which does not form a complex with iron. These results indicate that the effectiveness of iron modification on the photocatalytic activity of titania is dependent upon the interaction between iron and the degradation target in addition to changes in the light absorption capability of the photocatalyst itself.<br/> <br/>

Degradation of tetracycline and tylosin using an iron modified titania photocatalyst

255th National Meeting (2018)

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