The enhanced photodegradation of bisphenol A by TiO2/C3N4 composites

Environ Res. 2020 Mar:182:109090. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.109090. Epub 2019 Dec 24.

Abstract

A new photocatalyst of TiO2/C3N4 composite (TiO2/g-C3N4) was synthesized by the hydrothermal method. The characterization showed that TiO2/g-C3N4 extended absorption light range and enhanced generation efficiency of photo-induced electron. Under the simulated solar irradiation, the photodegradation rate of bisphenol A (BPA) by TiO2/g-C3N4 was twice as fast as that of g-C3N4. Furthermore, TiO2/g-C3N4 presented the good stability and excellent selectivity for BPA degradation. The high degradation rate of BPA by TiO2/g-C3N4 was demonstrated to be superoxide radical (·O2-) and singlet oxygen (1O2) by radical quenching experiment, which was further evidenced by EPR, XPS, DRS and PL analysis. These findings revealed that TiO2/g-C3N4 can be used as a potential photocatalyst for removing organic pollutants in actual environmental remediation.

Keywords: BPA; Photocatalytic performance; TiO(2); g-C(3)N(4).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Benzhydryl Compounds* / chemistry
  • Catalysis
  • Light*
  • Phenols* / chemistry
  • Photolysis
  • Titanium

Substances

  • Benzhydryl Compounds
  • Phenols
  • titanium dioxide
  • Titanium
  • bisphenol A