FABRICATED AgBr/rGO/g-C3N4 HYBRID PHOTOCATALYST FOR ENHANCED PHOTOCATALYTIC DEGRADATION OF TETRACYCLINE

AgBr/rGO/g-C3N4 was prepared by calcination and hydrothermal method. The as-prepared catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) diffuse reflectance spectra (UV-Vis DRS). The results showed that the AgBr/rGO/g-C3N4 hybrid photocatalyst has a similar diffraction pattern with AgBr and broad background absorption performance in the visible region, which is due to the presence of AgBr composites in AgBr/rGO/g-C3N4 sample. The FT-IR spectrum of AgBr/rGO/g-C3N4 composites possessed similar peaks to g-C3N4. The photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline was investigated under visible light irradiation with the as-prepared photocatalyst. The degradation rate could reach 72.6% in 60 min. The stability of the AgBr/rGO/g-C3N4 hybrid photocatalyst was evaluated under the same conditions of degradation, the possible degradation mechanism was further discussed.