Fabrication of Z-scheme photocatalysts g-CN/AgPO/chitosan for the photocatalytic degradation of ciprofloxacin.

In the present study, we have fabricated a novel chitosan based nanocomposite (g-CN/AgPO/CS) containing g-CN and AgPO nanoparticles. The fabricated nanocomposite was characterized successfully and used as a catalyst for photocatalytic degradation of ciprofloxacin (CIP) under visible light. The TEM results revealed that the g-CN and AgPO nanoparticles are well dispersed into the polymer matrix. The surface area of the nanocomposite was determine using Nadsorption and desorption isotherm and calculated using BET equation and found to be 112.47 m/g. The photocatalytic degradation of CIP was studied at different initial concentrations. The intermediate of and the degradation mechanism was determining using LCMS and DFT techniques. The results revealed that as-fabricated nanocomposite, g-CN/AgPO/CS shows, 90.34% degradation of CIP within 60 min at room temperature in neutral medium. The CIP degradation kinetics displays the first-order kinetics with 0.01771 min. The reusability of the photocatalyst was observed after six cycles and g-CN/AgPO/CS catalyst remains 79.43% degradation of CIP in similar condition.