Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline antibiotic using m-BiVO4 photocatalyst under visible light irradiation

Highlights: • m-BiVO₄ photocatalyst was successfully synthesized by hydrothermal technique. • The Degradation efficiency of m-BiVO₄ was 1.47 times higher than Degussa P25. • OH is the main oxidizing species for the degradation of tetracycline antibiotic. • Upto three cycles, the m-BiVO₄ exhibits excellent photostability and reusability. • Photocatalysis of m-BiVO₄ was ascribed to small crystallite size and narrow bandgap. The monoclinic Bismuth Vanadate (m-BiVO₄) photocatalyst was synthesized via hydrothermal technique. The characterization studies confirmed that the m-BiVO₄ exhibits monoclinic scheelite structure, twinning star-like morphology and high optical absorption. The photodegradation of Tetracycline (TC) using m-BiVO₄ reveals that degradation efficiency of 96% and rate constant of 0.029 min⁻¹ were achieved at 60 min of visible-light irradiation. The rate constant for m-BiVO₄ is 2.23 times greater than the commercially available TiO₂ owing to small crystallite size and narrow bandgap. These excellent characteristics strongly suggest that the prepared m-BiVO₄ may serve as better photocatalyst for the removal of antibiotic pollutants from wastewater.