Photocatalytic degradation of an aqueous sulfamethoxazole over the metallic silver and Keggin unit codoped titania nanocomposites

Abstract A series of metallic silver and Keggin unit codoped titania nanocomposites (H 3 PW 12 O 40 /Ag–TiO 2 ) were prepared through a single step sol–gel-hydrothermal method. The composites mainly exhibited an anatase phase, featuring micro–meso dual porosity with metallic Ag nanoparticles homogeneously dispersed on the surface of the H 3 PW 12 O 40 /Ag–TiO 2 ; meanwhile, they showed photoresponses to both the UV- and visible-light regions. As the novel composite photocatalysts, the materials were used to degrade a light-insensitive target compound, sulfamethoxazole (SMZ), under Xe lamp irradiation (320 nm  λ 3 PW 12 O 40 /Ag–TiO 2 were studied; additionally, the photocatalytic degradation pathway of an aqueous SMZ over H 3 PW 12 O 40 /Ag–TiO 2 was proposed by analyzing the reaction intermediates and final products identified during the photcatalytic process. Finally, the recyclability of the photocatalyst was evaluated.