Enhanced Tribodegradation of a Tetracycline Antibiotic by Rare-Earth-Modified Zinc Oxide.

Tribocatalysis is an emerging advanced oxidation process that utilizes the triboelectric effect, based on friction between dissimilar materials to produce charges that can initiate various catalytic reactions. In this study, pure and rare-earth-modified ZnO powders (LaO, EuO, 2 mol %) were demonstrated as efficient tribocatalysts for the removal of the tetracycline antibiotic doxycycline (DC). While the pure ZnO samples achieved 49% DC removal within 24 h at a stirring rate of 100 rpm, the addition of EuO increased the removal efficiency to 67%, and LaO-modified ZnO powder exhibited the highest removal efficiency, reaching 80% at the same stirring rate.