Remotion of the antibiotic tetracycline by titania and titania-silica composed materials

► TiO2 and composed TiO2-SiO2 materials are used as both adsorbents and photocatalysts for tetracycline (TC) remotion. ► Adsorption of TC on bare silica is negligible. ► TiO2 crystallites supported on silica enhance the adsorption and photodegradation of TC. ► Adsorption mechanism, controlled by diffusion process, is related to electrostatic interactions and H-bonds formation. ► Phototodegradation mechanism is related to the formation of OH radicals, deamination, and mineralization of the antibiotic molecule.