Photocatalysis of sulfasalazine using Gd-doped PbSe nanoparticles under visible light irradiation: Kinetics, intermediate identification and phyto-toxicological studies

•Synthesis of GdxPb1−xSe nanoparticles through a facile hydrothermal method.•Characterization of synthesized nanoparticles by SEM, XRD and XPS.•Photocatalysis of sulfasalazine by doped PbSe nanoparticles under visible light.•Investigation of inhibitory effect of different inorganic ions on photocatalysis.

Undoped and Gd-doped PbSe nanoparticles were synthesized through a simple hydrothermal method. The photocatalytic activity of the catalysts was evaluated through the degradation of sulfasalazine (SSZ) under visible light irradiation. Synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by SEM, XRD, and XPS techniques. The photocatalytic degradation efficiency of SSZ in the presence of 8% Gd-doped PbSe (80.67%) was higher than that of undoped PbSe (42%). The order of the inhibitory effect of different inorganic ions was HCO3− > Cl− > SO42− > F−. The photocatalytic degradation intermediates were identified using GC–MS. Phytotoxicity of SSZ and its intermediates formed in photocatalytic process were evaluated.

Graphical abstractPhotocatalytic properties of Gd-doped PbSe nanoparticles as a visible light-activated photocatalyst.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide