Enhanced effect of sonochemistry on the degradation of trace antibiotics in water by N-β-rGO/PMS adsorption-catalytic oxidation system

Sonochemistry was used to improve the degradation performance of trace antibiotics in water by the adsorption-catalytic oxidation system composed of Nitrogen-doped cyclodextrin reduced graphene oxide (N-β-rGO) and peroxymonosulfate (PMS). The results indicated that after loading ultrasound, >90% of antibiotics such as SMZ, LVX, CLI, TC, PEN, and CHL were removed within 10 min. Increasing the sound intensity, raising the system temperature, and increasing the initial PMS concentration all improved the strengthening effect. Among them, the removal rate was enhanced by >10% under low pH conditions. Moreover, the calculated enhancement factor of ultrasound enhancement was >1.30. The magnitude of the enhancement effect was correlated with the logP of antibiotics. • Ultrasound could improve the ability of the “adsorption-catalytic oxidation” system to remove trace antibiotics in water. • More than 90% of antibiotics were removed within 10 min. • The calculated enhancement factor of ultrasound enhancement was greater than 1.30. • It had great application potential for antibiotics with high hydrophobicity.