Novel VUV/g-C3N4 system with high adaptability to varied environmental conditions and outstanding degradation capacity for chlorophenols

Bin Zhang; Jun Ma; Huizhong Chi; An Ding; Yanjun Xin; Yingying Ma; Qingliang Liu; Xu He

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126473

Novel VUV/g-C₃N₄ system with high adaptability to varied environmental conditions and outstanding degradation capacity for chlorophenols

J Hazard Mater. 2021 Oct 5:419:126473. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126473. Epub 2021 Jun 29.

Authors

Bin Zhang¹, Jun Ma¹, Huizhong Chi², An Ding³, Yanjun Xin⁴, Yingying Ma¹, Qingliang Liu³, Xu He⁵

Affiliations

¹ Qingdao Engineering Research Center for Rural Environment, College of Resource and Environment, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China; State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China.
² Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518055, China.
³ State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China.
⁴ Qingdao Engineering Research Center for Rural Environment, College of Resource and Environment, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China.
⁵ State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China. Electronic address: hexu@hit.edu.cn.

PMID: 34218193
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126473

Abstract

Given the limitations of conventional vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) systems, a novel vacuum ultraviolet/graphite carbon nitride (VUV/g-C₃N₄) system with high adaptability to varying environmental conditions was developed. Compared with conventional VUV and UV/g-C₃N₄ systems, the VUV/g-C₃N₄ system demonstrates a much higher ability for the efficient degradation of chlorophenols (CPs). In particular, the VUV/g-C₃N₄ system exhibits outstanding performance even at low pH and high concentrations of humic acid and SO₄^2-. Alkaline conditions and the presence of HCO₃^- can further promote CP removal. In addition, the feasibility of the VUV/g-C₃N₄ system was verified by its stable operation in both river water and tap water. Unlike conventional photochemical systems relying on •OH, the dominant reactive species for CP degradation by the VUV/g-C₃N₄ system was identified to be •O₂^-. This study conclusively provided a novel system for the efficient photocatalytic treatment of pollutants.

Keywords: Chlorophenols; Dehalogenation; Graphitic carbon nitride; Superoxide radicals; Vacuum ultraviolet.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Catalysis
Chlorophenols*
Environmental Pollutants*
Graphite*
Humic Substances
Vacuum
Water

Substances

Chlorophenols
Environmental Pollutants
Humic Substances
Water
Graphite