Photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline in aqueous solution using copper sulfide nanoparticles

In this paper, spherical-shaped pure phase djurleite (Cu₃₁ S₁₆ ) and roxbyite (Cu₇ S₄ ) nanopar-ticles were prepared by a solvothermal decomposition of copper(II) dithiocarbamate complex in dodecanthiol (DDT). The reaction temperature was used to control the phases of the samples, which were represented as Cu₃₁ S₁₆ (120^◦ C), Cu₃₁ S₁₆ (150^◦ C), Cu₇ S₄ (220^◦ C), and Cu₇ S₄ (250^◦ C) and were characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), and absorption spectroscopy. The samples were used as photocatalysts for the degradation of tetracycline (TC) under visible light irradiation. The results of the study showed that Cu₇ S₄ (250^◦ C) exhibited the best activity in the reaction system with the TC degradation rate of up to 99% within 120 min of light exposure, while the Cu₃₁ S₁₆ (120^◦ C) system was only 46.5% at the same reaction condition. In general, roxbyite Cu₇ S₄ (250^◦ C) could be considered as a potential catalyst for the degradation of TC in solution.