(Mn, Co, Cu)-Ce solid solution for efficient degradation of tetracycline via photo-fenton-like process

Herein, (Mn, Co, Cu)-Ce solid solution (MnCeOx, CoCeOx and CuCeOx) catalysts were successfully synthesized and applied in a Photo-Fenton-like system for tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) degradation. The CuCeOx/H2O2 system displayed the best catalytic activity compared with CoCeOx/H2O2 and MnCeOx/H2O2 systems under visible light irradiation. The high TCH degradation performance of CuCeOx/H2O2 system was mainly ascribed to the synergistic effect of photocatalysis and Fenton-like reaction, which accelerated the cycle between Cu2+ and Cu+ by using the photoinduced carriers and facilitated the generation of reactive radicals. Furthermore, the possible mechanism of MnCeOx, CoCeOx and CuCeOx photocatalysts activating H2O2 toward TCH degradation was proposed.