ZIF-67/LDH sandwiched between graphitic nitride sheets for antibiotic removal

This research identifies a photocatalyst made up of zeolitic imidazolate framework-67 (ZIF-67) coated with layered double hydroxide (LDH) incorporated in graphitic carbon nitride (GC) nanosheets, formulated precisely for photocatalytic degradation of Tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH), an enduring antibiotic water system contaminant. The composite was synthesised through the hydrothermal method while keeping the ZIF-67/LDH ratio and gCN percentages constant. Material integrity was verified by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and morphological studies. The ternary composite ZLGC prepared showed superior photocatalytic activity towards the degradation of TCH. Trapping experiments carried out using tert-butanol (for •OH), para-benzoquinone (for •O₂⁻), and EDTA-2Na (for h⁺) revealed hydroxyl radicals as the major reactive species. Kinetic experiments revealed increased rates of degradation, which can be attributed to the synergistic action of ZIF-67's adsorption capacity, LDH's structural stability, and gCN's visible light responsiveness. The eco-friendly photocatalyst offers an extremely effective solution to large-scale wastewater treatment, solving the critical problem of antibiotic contamination.