Visible light activated photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline by a magnetically separable composite photocatalyst: Graphene oxide/magnetite/cerium-doped titania

A magnetically separable graphene oxide-cerium-doped titania (MGO-Ce-TiO2) hybrid photocatalyst was successfully prepared by a one step method. The as-obtained samples showed enhanced photocatalytic activity for the decomposition of tetracycline (TC, a typical antibiotic) under visible light irradiation. The composite catalysts combined high charge transferring properties of GO, superparamagnetic property of Fe3O4 and visible-light-activation of Ce-doped TiO2. The intermediates of tetracycline in the photocatalytic degradation process were analyzed. The photocatalytic degradation pathway of tetracycline was also proposed.70