A review of tungsten trioxide (WO3)-based materials for antibiotics removal via photocatalysis

Shan Yuju; Tang Xiujuan; Shen Dongsheng; Zhou Zhiruo; Wang Meizhen

doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.114988

A review of tungsten trioxide (WO₃)-based materials for antibiotics removal via photocatalysis

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2023 Jul 1:259:114988. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.114988. Epub 2023 May 12.

Authors

Shan Yuju¹, Tang Xiujuan¹, Shen Dongsheng², Zhou Zhiruo³, Wang Meizhen²

Affiliations

¹ School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, China.
² School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, Hangzhou, China.
³ School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, China. Electronic address: zhouzhiruo@zjgsu.edu.cn.

PMID: 37182300
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.114988

Abstract

Antibiotics are extensively used in human medicine and animal breeding. The use of antibiotics has posed significant risks and challenges to the natural water environment. On a global scale, antibiotics have been frequently detected in the environment, azithromycin (254-529 ng·L^-1), ciprofloxacin (245-1149 ng·L^-1), ofloxacin (518-1998 ng·L^-1), sulfamethoxazole (1325-5053 ng·L^-1), and tetracycline (31.4-561 ng·L^-1) are the most detected antibiotics in wastewater and surface water. Abuses of antibiotics has caused a significant threat to water resources and has seriously threatened the survival of human beings. Therefore, there is an urgent need to reduce antibiotic pollution and improve the environment. Researchers have been trying to develop effective methods and technologies for antibiotic degradation in water. Finding efficient and energy-saving methods for treating water pollutants has become an important global topic. Photocatalytic technology can effectively remove highly toxic, low-concentration, and difficult-to-treat pollutants, and tungsten trioxide (WO₃) is an extremely potential alternative catalyst. Pt/WO₃ photocatalytic degradation efficiency of tetracycline was 72.82%, While Cu-WO₃ photocatalytic degradation efficiency of tetracycline was 96.8%; WO₃/g-C₃N₄ photocatalytic degradation efficiency of ceftiofur was 70%, WO_3/W photocatalytic degradation efficiency of florfenicol was 99.7%; WO₃/CdWO₄ photocatalytic degradation efficiency of ciprofloxacin was 93.4%; WO₃/Ag photocatalytic degradation efficiency of sulfanilamide was 96.2%. Compared to other water purification methods, photocatalytic technology is non-toxic and ensures complete degradation through a stable reaction process, making it an ideal water treatment method. Here, we summarize the performance and corresponding principles of tungsten trioxide-based materials as a photocatalytic catalyst and provide substantial insight for further improving the photocatalytic potential of WO₃-based materials.

Keywords: AOPs; Antibiotic; Photocatalysis; Tungsten trioxide; Water treatment.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents*
Catalysis
Ciprofloxacin
Humans
Oxides*
Tetracyclines

Substances

Anti-Bacterial Agents
tungsten oxide
Oxides
Ciprofloxacin
Tetracyclines