Solar light‐induced photocatalytic degradation of methylparaben by g‐C₃N₄ in different water matrices

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In this study, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4) photocatalyst was successfully synthesized via calcination of urea under argon flow and tested for methyl paraben (MeP) degradation in aqueous media under simulated solar light for the first time. Its structural, morphological, and optical properties were investigated with the use of X-Ray diffraction (XRD), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis method. RESULTS: The as-synthesized g-C 3 N 4 exhibited high photocatalytic performance towards the degradation of MeP in ultra-pure water (UPW), yielding a near-complete elimination after 90 min of irradiation. Experimental results revealed that the photocatalytic reaction followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. Furthermore, the photocatalytic degradation of MeP was found to be strongly pH-dependent. Experiments in real water matrices (bottled water (BW) and wastewater (WW)), as well as in UPW, spiked with inorganic and organic additives (bicarbonate ions, humic acid) affected the target compound degradation. For instance, the apparent rate constant of MeP in UPW was approximately 4 and 8 times greater than that of BW and WW, respectively. The addition of persulfate ions in the reaction mixture enhanced the performance of the present photocatalytic system. Trapping experiments revealed that photogenerated holes play a leading role in the photocatalytic degradation of MeP. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that g-C 3 N 4 photocatalysis can be used as an efficient technology for the removal of hazardous organic micropollutants, such as parabens.

Optimization of thermal exfoliation of graphitic carbon nitride for methylparaben photocatalytic degradation under simulated solar radiation

“…The diffraction signal at 2q = 27.4°is ascribed to the (0 0 2) plane of graphitic carbon nitrides and related to the van der Waals forces that generate the periodic stacking between layers along the c axis. [11][12][13] In comparison to the bulk-U sample the exfoliated samples showed a decrease in the intensity of both peaks, more signicant for the diffraction at 27.4°. The enlarged view of the (0 0 2) peak (Fig.…”

Using Sawdust Derived Biochar as a Novel 3D Particle Electrode for Micropollutants Degradation

“…The specific surface area (SSA) of biochar was determined with the use of a micromeritics (Gemini III 2375) instrument (Norcross, GA, USA), while XRD patterns were obtained with the use of a Brucker D8 Advance instrument with a Cu Kα source (λ = 1.5496 Å). More details about the aforementioned characterization techniques can be found in former studies of our group [40,41]. SEM images were recorded on a JEOL JSM 6300 instrument (JEOL, Akishima, Tokyo, Japan), equipped with an X-ray energy dispersive spectrometer, EDS (ISIS Link 300, Oxford Instruments, High Wycombe, UK).…”