Photocatalytic degradation of ceftiofur sodium using Au loaded Bi2CuO4 nanoparticles

• Bi2CuO4 nanoparticles have been synthesized using ultrasound technique.
• Au loaded Bi2CuO4 nanoparticles have been synthesized and characterized.
• Photocatalytic performance was investigated under visible light by degrading a pharmaceutical pollutant, ceftiofur sodium.

The Bi2CuO4 nanoparticles were prepared for the first time by ultrasound-assisted method, modified with gold (Au) nanoparticles, and characterized through TEM, EDAX, and XPS analyses. The photocatalytic performance of Au–Bi2CuO4 nanoparticles was investigated under visible light illumination to degrade a pharmaceutical pollutant, ceftiofur sodium (CFS). The Au–Bi2CuO4 nanoparticles own superior photocatalytic activities when compared to pristine Bi2CuO4 nanoparticles. The Au nanoparticles play a crucial role in the separation of photogenerated charge carriers and as a consequence Au–Bi2CuO4 nanoparticles can produce more hydroxyl radicals, which have been quantitatively identified by conducting fluorescence experiments with terephthalic acid as a probe molecule.

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