Microwave-assisted synthesis of selective degradation photocatalyst by surface molecular imprinting method for the degradation of tetracycline onto ClTiO2

The ClTiO2 imprinted photocatalyst was prepared via surface molecular imprinted technology with a facile microwave-assisted method with tetracycline (TC) as the molecular template. 4-vinyl pyridine (4-vp), trimethylolpropane acrylate (TMPTA), and 2,2-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) were considered to functional monomer, cross-linking agent and initiate, respectively. The sample was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra (UV–vis DRS), fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Comparing with the non-imprinted photocatalyst, the molecular imprinted photocatalyst exhibited higher photo-degradation rate for TC but also showed to enhance selective activity for target molecular. The degradation rate of TC was 72.35% within 60 min under visible irradiation.

► A new molecular imprinted photocatalyst was synthesized by microwave-assisted method.
► The MIP photocatalyst played the highest photocatalytic activity and selectivity.
► The effects of various factors on the degradation behavior were investigated.
► The first-kinetic and second-kinetic of photocatalytic degradation were studied.