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1587509 
Journal Article 
Photocatalytic Decomposition of Amoxicillin Trihydrate Antibiotic in Aqueous Solutions under UV Irradiation Using Sn/TiO2 Nanoparticles 
Mohammadi, R; Massoumi, B; Rabani, M 
2012 
Yes 
International Journal of Photoenergy
ISSN: 1110-662X
EISSN: 1687-529X 
WOS:000302632300001 
TiO2 and Sn/TiO2 nanoparticles were successfully synthesized
by sol-gel method. The resulting nanoparticles were characterized by XRD, TEM, SEM, UV-Vis
reflectance spectroscopy, and BET analysis methods. The effects of Sn-doping on the crystal
structure, surface area, adsorption properties, pore size distribution, and optical absorption
properties of the catalysts were investigated. The effect of different Sn content on the amount
of hydroxyl radical was discussed by using salicylic acid as probe molecule. The photocatalytic
activity of samples was tested by photocatalytic mineralization of amoxicillin trihydrate (AMOX)
as a model pollutant. Sn/TiO2 nanoparticles exhibited high photocatalytic activity during the
mineralization of AMOX under UV light due to increase in the generated hydroxyl radicals, band
gap energy, specific surface area, and decrease in the crystallite size. The kinetic of the
mineralization of AMOX can be explained in terms of the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model. The values of
the adsorption equilibrium constant (K-AMOX) and the kinetic rate constant of surface reaction
(k(c)) were 0.56(mg L-1)(-1) and 1.86mg L-1 min(-1), respectively.