Key role of Fe(VI)-activated Bi2WO6 in the photocatalytic oxidation of sulfonamides: Mediated electron transfer mechanism

The widespread use of sulfonamides (SAs) in animals and human infections has raised significant concerns regarding their presence in ambient waterways and potential for inducing antimicrobial resistance. Herein, we report on the capacity of ferrate (VI) (FeVIO42-, Fe(VI)) to facilitate the photocatalytic degradation of sulfamethazine (SMT) via bismuth tungstate (Bi2WO6, BWO) under blue LED light (Vis/BWO/Fe(VI)) exposure, at rates that were 45-fold faster than BWO photocatalysis. Both the stepwise and time-series addition of Fe(VI) contributed to the degradation. Multiple lines of evidence confirmed that the common reactive species (RSs) in BWO-based photocatalytic systems and Fe(VI)-involved systems (e.g., •OH/h+, O2•−, 1O2 and Fe(V)/Fe(IV)) played subtle roles in our study system. Herein, for the first time, it was discovered that the precursor complex (BWO-Fe(V)/Fe(IV)* )) was the main contributor to induce electron transfer of SAs through the "conductive bridge" effect of BWO. The studied system was able to effectively degrade SMT in synthetic hydrolyzed urine (SHU) with low interference from background substances in water. This work not only offers a novel facilitation strategy for BWO, but also holds a great application prospect for contamination remediation in urine. [Display omitted] •A novel strategy for Fe(VI) facilitating photocatalysis on environmental remediation is proposed.•The selective degradation property of the system is explored via competitive kinetic.•Mediated electron transfer pathway is discovered for the first time on Bi2WO6 catalysts.•Applied basic study prove the application prospect of Fe(VI)-activated Bi2WO6 photolysis system.