Perovskite-type catalyst for tetracycline abatement under dark ambient over a wide pH range

The alarming release of pollutants into aquatic ecosystems, particularly concerning the emission of antibiotics, demands attention. Tetracycline (TC) is a drug commonly identified in both industrial and residential wastewater. In this context, new perovskite-type catalysts are considered a relevant topic for antibiotic degradation in water. The focus on oxides with a perovskite-like structure is due to their impressive thermal stability, cost-effectiveness, enhanced oxygen mobility, and flexibility for structural modifications. In this study, perovskite-type catalyst based on strontium and copper was synthesized and successfully applied in the TC degradation in absence of light. The material was prepared via sol-gel using a temperature controlled jacketed reactor. Numerous characterization techniques were applied to infer the catalyst’s chemical and morphological aspects (TEM, SEM, XRD, BET, FTIR, and EDX). The material presented a dense characteristic and low porosity aspects. Also, the specific surface area and average pore diameter measured for the catalyst were 0.572 m2 ∙ g−1 and 37.76 nm, respectively. In the degradation tests, no substance was added to assist in the treatment, which obtained excellent removal percentages over a wide pH range. Degradation yields achieved for pHs 4, 6, 7, and 10 were 94.3, 92.8, 92, and 90.4