Tungsten Catalysts for Visible Light Driven Ofloxacin Photocatalytic Degradation and Hydrogen Production

Abstract

Some tungsten catalysts of interest that are synthesized are bismuth tungstate (BT) and Tetrabutylammonium decatungstate (TBADT), using two consolidated procedures. BT is used as a photo-catalyst for the simulated solar light degradation of ofloxacin (OFL) antibiotic under relevant real conditions (µg L−1, fresh water) with the limit of 0.05 g L−1 of catalyst. A quantitative drug decomposition occurred following a bi-exponential first-order law, with an efficiency comparable with the most used P25 TiO2 catalyst. The photocatalytic profiles of OFL at µg L−1 and mg L−1 were monitored by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with fluorescence (FD) and ultraviolet (UV) detectors. Additionally, the main photoproducts were identified by high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization in tandem with mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS). The catalyst Tetrabutylammonium decatungstate (TBADT) was used as a catalyst to produce hydrogen from glucose and 2-propanol in aqueous solution, providing hydrogen gas evolution up to 10 µmol g−1 h−1.