Synthesis, characterisation and photocatalytic degradation of linezolid during water treatment by ruthenium doped titanium dioxide semiconducting nanoparticles

Ruthenium doped titanium dioxide nanoparticles (RDTDONPs) were prepared by liquid impregnation method to use as a photocatalyst. These particles were characterized by different methods and used for the photocatalytic degradation of drug Linezolid (LNZ) under UV illumination at 254 nm for pH ranging from 4.0 to 8.0. Five UV degraded products of LNZ were identified by High Resolution Mass Spectrophotometry (HR-MS). The average crystallite size of photocatalysts were found to be 17.08 nm, 16.71 nm, 15.65 nm and 14.36 nm for undoped titanium dioxide nanoparticles (UTDONPs), 0.2%, 0.4% and 0.8% (mole ratio) RDTDONPs respectively using Scherrer equation. This shows that the photocatalytic activity in 0.8% (mole ratio) RDTDONPs is higher due to increase in surface activity. The observed rate constants (kobs) were found to be increased with increase in the dosage of the photocatalyst. The values of kobs were found to be increased with decrease in pH. Kinetic data reveals that there is initial increase in the values of kobs with increase in the [LNZ]. Photo-degradation electron hole pair mechanism is proposed in agreement with the experimental results. Kinetic experiments show that the values of kobs increases with increase in light intensity.Ruthenium doped titanium dioxide nanoparticles (RDTDONPs) were prepared by liquid impregnation method to use as a photocatalyst. These particles were characterized by different methods and used for the photocatalytic degradation of drug Linezolid (LNZ) under UV illumination at 254 nm for pH ranging from 4.0 to 8.0. Five UV degraded products of LNZ were identified by High Resolution Mass Spectrophotometry (HR-MS). The average crystallite size of photocatalysts were found to be 17.08 nm, 16.71 nm, 15.65 nm and 14.36 nm for undoped titanium dioxide nanoparticles (UTDONPs), 0.2%, 0.4% and 0.8% (mole ratio) RDTDONPs respectively using Scherrer equation. This shows that the photocatalytic activity in 0.8% (mole ratio) RDTDONPs is higher due to increase in surface activity. The observed rate constants (kobs) were found to be increased with increase in the dosage of the photocatalyst. The values of kobs were found to be increased with decrease in pH. Kinetic data reveals that there is initial increase in the valu...