Sunlight-induced enhanced photocatalytic reduction of chromium (VI) and photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye and ciprofloxacin antibiotic by Sn3O4/SnS2 nanocomposite

Detection of residual organic and inorganic species in water bodies, including drinking water, has led to developing strategies for their removal. Here, we report a very efficient method of removing Cr(VI), organic dye, and antibiotic from water using a type-II heterojunction based on Sn3O4/SnS2 solar photocatalyst. The toxic Cr(VI) species are reduced by photocatalytic methodology, while methylene blue (MB) dye and ciprofloxacin (CIP) antibiotics are removed by photocatalytic degradation. The structural, compositional, morphological, and optical properties of the hydrothermally synthesized photocatalyst have been studied. Under sunlight exposure, more than 99.9% of Cr(VI) is reduced within 60 min at a reaction rate of 0.066 min-1. While 99.6% of MB and 90% of CIP degradation are achieved in 90 min and 120 min, corresponding to photocatalytic degradation rates of 0.043 min-1 and 0.019 min-1, respectively. The total organic carbon after degradation corresponded to 85.1% for MB and 72.4% for CIP mineralization. The observed photocatalytic degradation is attributed to in situ generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), e.g., superoxide radicals and hydroxyl radicals. The role of ROS towards photocatalytic degradation of MB and CIP, respectively, was confirmed from ROS scavenging studies. The MB and CIP degradation mechanism has been discussed by analyzing their degradation products.