Photocatalytic Degradation of Oxytetracycline Using Co-precipitation Method Prepared Fe₂O₃/TiO₂Nanocomposite

$Fe_2O_3/TiO_2$ nanocomposite were successfully synthesized by co-precipitation method using $Fe(NO_3)_3{\cdot}9H_2O$ and $Ti(SO_4)_2$ as raw materials. Structural and textural features of the mixed oxide samples were characterized by X-ray diffractometer, field emission scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray. The effects of initial concentration of oxytetracycline (OTC), different competitive ions and organics on the photocatalytic degradation rate of OTC by the $Fe_2O_3/TiO_2$ nanocomposite were analyzed under UV and visible light irradiation. The results indicate that the optimized initial concentration of OTC was 50 mg/L to achieve the best photocatalytic efficiency. $Cu²⁺$, $NH_4{^+}$, $C_3H_8O$ and EDTA in the aqueous suspension were found to suppress the degradation rate of OTC, whereas the effect of $NO_3{^-}$ and $H_2C_2O_4$ can be ignored.