Application of yttrium molybdate tethered polypyrrole nanocomposite for the photocatalytic remediation of nitrofurantoin in water

The present work reveals the photocatalytic ability of yttrium molybdate coupled polypyrrole nanocomposite (YMoO4/PPy) towards the removal of nitrofuran-based broad-spectrum antibiotic nitrofurantoin (NFT) in water under the irradiation of light-emitting diode (LED). Here, YMoO4 was hydrothermally prepared while template-driven growth of PPy nanorods was employed and, finally, the preparation of composite (YMoO4/PPy) was facilitated by ultrasonication. The as-synthesized YMoO4/PPy was explored via electron-microscopy for morphology investigation, X-ray diffraction for structural characterization, Fourier-Transform infrared spectroscopy to confirm chemical functional entities, UV-Visible spectroscopy for determining the bandgap, and electrochemical investigations for photoelectrochemical characterization of the synthesized systems. The composites (1:1, 1:2, and 2:1 YMoO4/PPy by percentage weight) and the individual counter-parts (YMoO4 and PPy) were evaluated in a LED-aided photocatalytic system against NFT. It was observed that ∼93% of NFT (15 ppm) was mineralized within 80 minutes of reaction by a 1:2 YMoO4/PPy (25 mg) catalyst. The kinetics of response fitted the pseudo-first-order model with close to unity value of coefficient of determination. Here, the influence of conducting polymer is significant in terms of rapid electron mobility and prolonged charge separation. Also, the minimal blend of rare-earth oxide upholds the economy and real-time application. Therefore, the present work explicitly explored the combination of rare-earth metal oxide interfaced conductive polymer taking into account photo- and electro-intrinsic traits of the composite.