Green fabrication of citrus pectin-Ag@AgCl/g-C3N4 nanocomposites with enhanced photocatalytic activity for the degradation of new coccine

Abstract

In this research, novel citrus-pectin-based Ag@AgCl/graphite carbon nitride nanocomposites (CACNs) were formed by assembling citrus-pectin-based Ag@AgCl (CP-Ag@AgCl) prepared by daylight-driven reduction onto a graphite carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) surface. The as-prepared samples were characterized by various techniques to study their morphology, structure, optical and electrochemical properties. The CACNs were found to have enhanced photoelectrochemical properties, which provided excellent photocatalytic activity to degrade the food colorant new coccine (NC) under visible light. For the NC degradation, the recommended photocatalyst offered approximately 95.7% of the degradation efficiency under visible-light irradiation for 60 min, which has superior photostability and reusability. Its degradation rate constant was approximately 5.16 and 37.6 times those of pure g-C₃N₄ and CP-Ag@AgCl, respectively. The NC degradation conformed to pseudo-first-order kinetics. Thus, the developed nanocomposites provide a useful reference for the removal of hazardous food colorants and resource utilization of peel waste.

Keywords: Citrus-pectin-based Ag@AgCl; Enhanced photocatalytic activity; Graphite carbon nitride; New coccine degradation; Resource utilization.