Visible light photocatalytic degradation of tamoxifen using covalent organic triazine polymer

Metal-free, environmentally friendly photocatalysts offer a valuable alternative to conventional metal-based semiconductors. In this study, we developed a photocatalyst based on a covalent organic triazine polymer (COTP) using an efficient synthetic route. Comprehensive characterization was conducted to assess the physical (TEM, FESEM-EDS, and elemental mapping), chemical (FTIR and XRD), and optical (UV-Vis-DRS) properties of the synthesized photocatalyst and to evaluate its photocatalytic performance for the selective oxidation of tamoxifen (TMX) when exposed to visible light. The COTP exhibited remarkable photocatalytic efficiency, achieving a rate constant of 0.0599 min^{- 1} in degrading TMX. Optimal performance was obtained under the following conditions: a photocatalyst dose of 40 mg/L, a pH of 7, an initial TMX concentration of 10 mg/L, 60 min of irradiation. Furthermore, radical trapping experiments revealed that electrons (e^-), superoxide radicals (O•^-), and holes (h•) play crucial roles in the photodegradation process of TMX. Additionally, the COTP exhibited excellent stability, maintaining over 83% TMX degradation efficiency even after five consecutive cycles. These results highlight the significant potential of triazine-based polymers for the treatment of drug-contaminated wastewater.