One-step hydrothermal synthesis of lithium slag-based zeolite for the ultrafast photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline

This study converted lithium slag (LS) into a zeolite photocatalyst (LZ) via a one-step hydrothermal method, achieving the ultrafast ultraviolet (UV) photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline (TC). The TC adsorption capacity of LZ (20.35 %) was significantly enhanced by 17.84 % compared to that of LS (2.51 %), which was attributed to a more extensive specific surface area, which increased by approximately 42.29 m 2 /g. The LZ displayed a degradation rate of 68.35 % within 3 min at UV light of 365 nm and a high rate constant of 0.3620 min −1 , which was 46.95–64.69 % (0.3569–0.3615 min −1 ) higher than LZ or UV alone, respectively. The underlying mechanism was attributed to •O₂ − / h + -dominated oxidation and significantly enhanced photoelectric separation efficiency. In addition, the LZ/UV system also demonstrated stable photocatalytic capacity and high practicality. This photocatalyst shows promise for domestic sewage treatment, providing a sustainable, efficient solution for waste resource utilization.