DOI: https://doi.org/10.55373/mjchem.v27i3.20

Keywords: Antibiotic degradation; CuWO₄; tetracycline

Abstract

CuWO₄ materials were successfully prepared using a combination of hydrothermal and calcination methods under various conditions and characterized through multiple techniques. The influence of synthesis conditions on the physicochemical properties and photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline (TC) using the CuWO₄ catalyst were systematically investigated. The samples subjected to 24-hour hydrothermal treatment at 200 °C followed by calcination at 500 °C exhibited the highest photodegradation efficiency, achieving a rate constant of 1.24×10⁻²min⁻¹. Notably, the prepared samples demonstrated the ability to perform photocatalytic reactions over a broad pH range of 3.0 to 10.0. Reactive species such as •O₂⁻, h⁺ and •OH were found to contribute to TC degradation, with photo-generated h⁺ identified as the dominant species. This study presents an effective approach to enhancing the photocatalytic performance of CuWO₄^-based catalysts for antibiotic degradation in wastewater treatment applications.