Synthesis of Novel Phenyl Porous Organic Polymers and Their Excellent Visible Light Photocatalytic Performance on Antibiotics

Abstract

The efficient and green removal of residual antibiotics in the environment is an attractive topic. In this work, four different phenyl porous organic polymers (P-POPs) photocatalysts were successfully synthesized, and a series of techniques, such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), nitrogen adsorption and desorption experimentation, and solid ultraviolet visible spectroscopy (UV-vis) were conducted to characterize the obtained P-POPs. Moreover, the photocatalytic property of P-POPs in the removal of tetracycline was studied, and the reaction conditions were optimized. Further study indicated that the P-POPs were also efficient for removing other antibiotics, such as chloramphenicol, in a high removal rate of 77%. Furthermore, the separation of the photocatalysts from the solution was easy, and the photocatalysts could be reused at least four times without a considerable loss in catalytic activity.

Keywords: antibiotics; phenyl porous organic polymers; photocatalytic.

Scheme 1

The synthetic pathway of phenyl porous organic polymers (P-POPs). P₁, P₂, P₃ and P₄ represent the structural formulae of biphenyl, triphenylene, triphenylbenzene and hexaphenylbenzene, respectively.

Figure 1

The SEM images of P-POPs-1, P-POPs-2, P-POPs-3 and P-POPs-4.

Figure 2

The FT-IR spectra of P-POPs-1, P-POPs-2, P-POPs-3 and P-POPs-4.

Figure 3

The N₂ isotherms of P-POPs-1, P-POPs-2, P-POPs-3 and P-POPs-4 at 77K.

Figure 4

The UV-vis spectra of P-POPs-1, P-POPs-2, P-POPs-3 and P-POPs-4.

Figure 5

Effect of various catalysts on the removal rate of tetracycline. Reaction conditions: 20 mg/L tetracycline solution 40 mL, catalysts 10 mg, dark reaction 0.5 h, light reaction 6 h.

Figure 6

Effect of catalyst amounts on the removal rate of tetracycline. Reaction conditions: 20 mg/L tetracycline solution 40 mL, dark reaction 0.5 h, light reaction 6 h.

Figure 7

Effect of initial concentration on the removal rate of tetracycline. Reaction conditions: Tetracycline solution 40 mL, P-POPs-3 10 mg, dark reaction 0.5 h, light reaction 6 h.

Figure 8

Removal of chloramphenicol. Reaction conditions: 20 mg/L chloramphenicol solution 40 mL, P-POPs-3 10 mg, dark reaction 0.5 h, light reaction 6 h.

Figure 9

The recyclability of the P-POPs for the removal of tetracycline. Reaction conditions: 20 mg/L tetracycline solution 40 mL, P-POPs-3 10 mg, dark reaction 0.5 h, light reaction 6 h.