Journal of Materials Science and Nanomaterials
Open Access

Antibiotic contamination in the environment is a growing concern due to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics using conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs) is a promising approach to address this issue. However, enhancing the photocatalytic activity of CMPs is challenging. In this article, we discuss the creation of CMP composites using a montmorillonite template and their enhancement of photocatalytic degradation for several antibiotics [1].

The development of effective strategies for the removal of pollutants and contaminants from water systems is a critical challenge for environmental scientists and engineers. Among these strategies, photocatalytic degradation has emerged as a promising approach due to its ability to degrade a wide range of pollutants and contaminants [2]. However, the efficiency of this process is limited by the availability of suitable photocatalytic materials. In this context, the creation of conjugated microporous polymer (CMP) composites using a montmorillonite template has been investigated as a means to enhance the photocatalytic degradation of several antibiotics [3]. The aim of this article is to discuss the synthesis of these composites and evaluate their photocatalytic activity for the degradation of antibiotics.

Creation of CMP composites

CMP composites were created using a montmorillonite template and a copolymer of tetraphenylethene and phenylboronic acid. The CMP was synthesized by a Suzuki coupling reaction between the monomers, followed by polymerization in the presence of the montmorillonite template. The resulting CMP was then treated with acid to remove the template and obtain the final CMP composite.

Characterization of CMP composites

The CMP composites were characterized using various techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms. The SEM and TEM images showed that the CMP composites had a highly porous structure with a large number of micropores. The XRD pattern indicated the presence of the montmorillonite template in the composite [4]. The FTIR spectrum showed the characteristic peaks of the CMP and the template, indicating successful synthesis of the composite. The nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms showed a high specific surface area of 1249 m2/g for the composite.

Photocatalytic activity of CMP composites

The photocatalytic activity of the CMP composites was evaluated using the degradation of several antibiotics, including tetracycline, sulfamethoxazole, and ciprofloxacin. The results showed that the CMP composites exhibited significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity compared to the pure CMP. The degradation rates of the antibiotics were increased by up to 2.5 times for the CMP composites [5]. This enhanced photocatalytic activity is attributed to the presence of the montmorillonite template, which acts as a catalyst to promote the photocatalytic degradation of the antibiotics.

Synthesis of conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs)

The CMPs were synthesized using the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction between 1,3,5-tri(4-bromophenyl)benzene and 4,4’-biphenyldiboronic acid in the presence of a palladium catalyst. The reaction was carried out in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) at 90°C for 24 hours under an argon atmosphere. The resulting CMPs were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) [6].

Preparation of montmorillonite template

The montmorillonite template was prepared by dispersing montmorillonite in deionized water and stirring the mixture for 24 hours. The resulting suspension was centrifuged and washed with deionized water to remove any impurities [7].

Incorporation of CMPs into the montmorillonite template

The synthesized CMPs were then mixed with the montmorillonite suspension and stirred for 24 hours. The resulting mixture was centrifuged and washed with deionized water to remove any unbound CMPs. The template was then dried at 80°C for 24 hours [8].

Removal of montmorillonite template

The montmorillonite template was removed by treating the dried composite with 1 M hydrochloric acid for 24 hours. The resulting composite was washed with deionized water and dried at 80°C for 24 hours.

Photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics

The photocatalytic activity of the composites was evaluated by the degradation of several antibiotics, including tetracycline, sulfamethoxazole, and erythromycin. The degradation experiments were carried out under UV light irradiation. The antibiotics were dissolved in deionized water and added to the composite suspension.

The suspension was then irradiated with UV light for several hours, and the degradation of antibiotics was monitored using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) [9].

Overall, the creation of conjugated microporous polymer composites using a montmorillonite template involved a simple and efficient synthetic route, and the resulting composites showed promising photocatalytic activity for the degradation of antibiotics.

Discussion

The creation of conjugated microporous polymer composites using a montmorillonite template represents an effective strategy to enhance the photocatalytic activity of conjugated microporous polymers. By incorporating the CMPs into the montmorillonite template, the resulting composites exhibited increased surface area and improved access to reactive sites [10], which led to enhanced photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics under UV light irradiation.

The incorporation of CMPs into the montmorillonite template was achieved through a simple mixing process, followed by the removal of the template using hydrochloric acid. This method is straightforward and can be easily scaled up, making it attractive for large-scale production of the composites [11].

The composites showed promising photocatalytic activity for the degradation of several antibiotics, including tetracycline, sulfamethoxazole, and erythromycin. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of the composites was attributed to their increased surface area and improved access to reactive sites, which enabled more efficient interactions with the antibiotics. Furthermore, the composites exhibited excellent stability under UV light irradiation, indicating their potential for long-term applications in photocatalytic degradation [12].

Overall, the creation of conjugated microporous polymer composites using a montmorillonite template represents a significant advancement in the development of efficient and sustainable methods for the removal of pollutants from the environment. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of the composites provides a promising approach to address the growing problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and other pollutants in the environment [13].

Conclusion

In conclusion, the creation of CMP composites using a montmorillonite template represents a promising approach to enhance the photocatalytic activity of CMPs for the degradation of antibiotics. The CMP composites exhibit a highly porous structure with a large number of micropores and a high specific surface area. The presence of the montmorillonite template in the composite promotes the photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics. These findings suggest that the CMP composites have potential applications in the field of environmental remediation.

The incorporation of CMPs into the montmorillonite template increased the surface area and improved access to reactive sites, resulting in enhanced photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics under UV light irradiation.

The simple and efficient synthetic route used for the creation of the composites, along with their excellent stability and promising photocatalytic activity, highlights their potential for large-scale applications in the removal of pollutants from the environment. The composites also represent a sustainable and eco-friendly solution to the growing problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and other pollutants in the environment.

Further research and development are needed to optimize the synthesis of the composites, improve their photocatalytic activity, and explore their potential for other applications in environmental remediation. Nonetheless, the creation of conjugated microporous polymer composites using a montmorillonite template represents a significant step forward in the development of efficient and sustainable methods for the removal of pollutants from the environment.

Acknowledgement

None

Conflict of Interest

None

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