Researchers develop biochar-based photocatalyst that rapidly removes antibiotic pollutants from water

(Press-News.org) A new study reports that a biochar-enhanced photocatalyst can efficiently degrade antibiotic contaminants in water, offering a promising strategy for addressing one of the growing threats to global water quality.

The research, published in the journal Biochar, describes the development of a ternary composite material composed of biochar, titanium dioxide, and graphitic carbon nitride. The material demonstrated remarkable ability to break down sulfadiazine, a widely used sulfonamide antibiotic that is frequently detected in aquatic environments.

Antibiotic pollution has become an increasing environmental concern because these compounds can persist in water bodies, disrupt microbial communities, and contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance. Conventional wastewater treatment processes often struggle to fully remove such contaminants.

To address this challenge, researchers designed a new photocatalyst that harnesses sunlight to drive chemical reactions capable of degrading antibiotic molecules. The key innovation lies in the incorporation of biochar, a carbon-rich material produced from biomass, into a semiconductor photocatalytic system.

“Biochar plays a crucial role in improving how electrons move through the material during photocatalysis,” the researchers explained. “By enhancing charge separation and electron transport, it significantly increases the efficiency of pollutant degradation.”

Using a sol gel synthesis method, the team constructed a composite catalyst consisting of biochar, TiO2, and g-C3N4. Laboratory experiments showed that the optimized material, referred to as MBC-500, could remove more than 98 percent of sulfadiazine within one hour under simulated sunlight irradiation.

The performance of the new catalyst was substantially higher than that of the individual components alone. Its degradation rate was more than three times greater than that of pure TiO2 and g-C3N4 catalysts.

Detailed characterization revealed that the presence of biochar dramatically increased the material’s surface area and created a more complex porous structure. These features provide abundant active sites for adsorption and catalytic reactions. In addition, biochar acts as an electron reservoir that helps prevent recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes, a common limitation in photocatalytic systems.

The researchers also used advanced computational simulations to understand the electronic behavior of the material. Their calculations showed that biochar modifies the electronic structure of the TiO2/g-C3N4 heterojunction, enabling faster electron transfer and improved catalytic activity.

Beyond demonstrating high efficiency, the photocatalyst also showed good stability. After five cycles of reuse, the material maintained strong degradation performance with only moderate decline in activity, indicating its potential for practical environmental applications.

Further analysis identified the reactive species responsible for the degradation process. Reactive oxygen species such as superoxide radicals, hydroxyl radicals, and photogenerated holes were found to play key roles in breaking down the antibiotic molecules.

By combining experimental analysis with theoretical modeling, the researchers also proposed detailed degradation pathways showing how sulfadiazine molecules are gradually transformed into smaller and less harmful compounds before ultimately mineralizing into carbon dioxide, water, and inorganic ions.

The findings highlight the potential of biochar-based photocatalysts as efficient and sustainable materials for removing emerging contaminants from water.

As antibiotic pollution continues to increase worldwide, the development of advanced materials capable of harnessing sunlight for environmental remediation could provide an important tool for protecting water resources and public health.

 

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Journal Reference: Guo, X., Zhou, T., Wang, G. et al. Synergistic enhancement of biochar in TiO2/g-C3N4 Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts: mechanistic insights into the degradation pathways of sulfonamide antibiotics. Biochar 8, 36 (2026).   

https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-025-00552-1  

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About Biochar

Biochar (e-ISSN: 2524-7867) is the first journal dedicated exclusively to biochar research, spanning agronomy, environmental science, and materials science. It publishes original studies on biochar production, processing, and applications—such as bioenergy, environmental remediation, soil enhancement, climate mitigation, water treatment, and sustainability analysis. The journal serves as an innovative and professional platform for global researchers to share advances in this rapidly expanding field. 

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