Preparation and characterization of ternary magnetic g-C 3 N 4 composite photocatalysts for removal of tetracycline under visible light

Removal of tetracycline from wastewater using g-C3N4 based photocatalysts: A review

Tetracycline is currently one of the most consumed antibiotics for human therapy, veterinary purpose, and agricultural activities. Tetracycline worldwide consumption is expected to rise by about more than 30% by 2030. The persistence of tetracycline has necessitated implementing and adopting strategies to protect aquatic systems and the environment from noxious pollutants. Here, graphitic carbon nitride-based photocatalytic technology is considered because of higher visible light photocatalytic activity, low cost, and non-toxicity. Thus, this review highlights the recent progress in the photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline using g-C₃N₄-based photocatalysts. Additionally, properties, worldwide consumption, occurrence, and environmental impacts of tetracycline are comprehensively addressed. Studies proved the occurrence of tetracycline in all water matrices across the world with a maximum concentration of 54 μg/L. Among different g-C₃N₄-based materials, heterojunctions exhibited the maximum photocatalytic degradation of 100% with the reusability of 5 cycles. The photocatalytic membranes are found to be feasible due to easiness in recovery and better reusability. Limitations of g-C₃N₄-based wastewater treatment technology and efficient solutions are also emphasized in detail.

Enhanced visible light photo-Fenton-like degradation of tetracyclines by expanded perlite supported FeMo3Ox/g-C3N4 floating Z-scheme catalyst

In the conventional Fenton system, the relatively low efficiency of Fe (II) regeneration is a significant drawback. To address this shortcoming, a novel floating Z-scheme photo-Fenton catalyst FeMo₃O_x/g-C₃N₄/EP was prepared by a facile dip-calcination method, in which iron and molybdenum oxides with mixed valence states (FeMo₃O_x) and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) were loaded on the expanded perlite. The removal efficiencies reached the maximum at 98.0%, 93.1% and 97.1% for tetracycline, oxytetracycline and chlortetracycline, respectively, after 60 min dark adsorption and 60 min photo-Fenton process. The aid of dual ion (Fe and Mo) synergy system and photoreduction by Z-scheme photocatalyst enhanced the Fe (II) regeneration, resulting in the excellent performance. Radical scavenger experiment, electron spin resonance spectra (ESR) and X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) were used to confirm the mechanism of free radicals' formation and Fe/Mo redox cycling. ·OH, ·O₂^- and ¹O₂ played important roles in the pollutant's degradation, while the generation of ·O₂^- was enhanced due to the floatability in this system. The possible degradation pathways of TC were put forward according to the results of mass spectrum and Orbital-Weighted Fukui Function. Overall, this work provides new insights on the cooperation between iron-based mix oxides and semiconductor in the photo-Fenton system.

Graphitic Carbon Nitride as a Sustainable Photocatalyst Material for Pollutants Removal. State-of-the Art, Preliminary Tests and Application Perspectives

Photocatalysis is an attractive strategy for emerging pollutants remediation. Research towards the development of new, efficient and effective catalytic materials with high activity under wide irradiation spectra is a highly active sector in material science. Various semiconductor materials have been employed as photocatalysts, including TiO2, SrTiO3, CdS, BiVO4, Ta3N5, TaON, Ag3PO4, and g-C3N4. The latter is a metal-free, low cost polymer, providing high adsorption and catalytic properties, shown to be promising for photocatalysis applications under visible light. Furthermore, g-C3N4 composites are among the most promising advanced photocatalytical materials that can be produced by green synthesis processes. In this paper, the state-of-the-art of g-C3N4 applications is reviewed, and application perspectives are discussed. Photocatalysis tests with g-C3N4 under Xenon irradiation were performed to gather first-hand information to improve photoreactor design. Xenon light spectrum appears to be a suitable radiation source to replace direct sunlight in engineered pollutants removal processes catalyzed by g-C3N4, in lieu of other currently used heterogeneous photocatalysis processes (e.g., TiO2-UV). LED sources are also very promising due to higher energy efficiency and customizable, catalyzer-specific irradiation spectra.

Application of Magnetic Composites in Removal of Tetracycline through Adsorption and Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs): A Review

Water pollution induced by the tetracycline (TC) has caused global increasing attention owing to its extensive use, environmental persistence, and potential harm for human health. Adsorption and advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have been promising techniques for TC removal due to ideal effectiveness and efficiency. Magnetic composites (MCs) which exploit the combined advantages of nano scale, alternative sources, easy preparation, and separation from wastewater are widely used for catalysis and adsorption. Herein, we intensively reviewed the available literature in order to provide comprehensive insight into the applications and mechanisms of MCs for removal of TC by adsorption and AOPs. The synthesis methods of MCs, the TC adsorption, and removal mechanisms are fully discussed. MCs serve as efficient adsorbents and photocatalysts with superior performance of photocatalytic performance in TC degradation. In addition, the TC can be effectively decomposed by the Fenton-based and SO4•− mediated oxidation under catalysis of the reported MCs with excellent catalytic performance. Based on the existing literature, we further discuss the challenge and future perspectives in MCs-based adsorption and AOPs in removing TC.

Peroxymonosulfate-enhanced photocatalysis by carbonyl-modified g-C3N4 for effective degradation of the tetracycline hydrochloride

In this work, carbonyl-modified g-C₃N₄ (CO-C₃N₄) is prepared through one-step calcination of the melamine-oxalic acid aggregates. The visible light-assisted photocatalytic degradation efficiency of the tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) for CO-C₃N₄ is significantly enhanced by introducing the peroxymonosulfate (PMS), and the apparent rate constant is greatly increased from 0.01966 min^-1 in CO-C₃N₄/vis system to 0.07688 min^-1 in CO-C₃N₄/PMS/vis system. It is found that carbonyl for CO-C₃N₄ might offer possible reactive sites for PMS activation and collection sites of photo-generated electrons, greatly accelerating carrier's separation for PMS activation. The favorable conditions, such as the higher catalyst dosage, higher PMS amount and alkaline pH, contribute to TCH degradation. The deleterious effects of co-existing anions on the TCH degradation efficiency are ranked in a decline: H₂PO₄^- > SO₄^2- > HCO₃^- > NO₃^- > Cl^-, and it may be affected by the type and amounts of anions and active radicals generated. The radical trapping tests and electron spin resonance (ESR) detection display that the O₂^-, h⁺, ¹O₂, OH and SO₄^- all contribute to TCH degradation. Meanwhile, possible degradation mechanism, intermediates and degradation pathway of TCH are revealed in CO-C₃N₄/PMS/vis system. This study will offer a new insight for constructing PMS activation with carbonyl modified g-C₃N₄ photocatalysis system to achieve effective treatment of organic wastewater.

Effectively enhanced photodegradation of Bisphenol A by in-situ g-C3N4-Zn/Bi2WO6 heterojunctions and mechanism study

In our work, a series of in-situ g-C₃N₄-Zn/Bi₂WO₆ heterojunctions were synthesized by a two-step solvothermal method followed with calcination process, using dicyanamide as the precursor for g-C₃N₄. C₃N₄-Zn/BWO heterojunctions were of gossypine shape, and both C₃N₄ and Zn were finely distributed into BWO nanosheets, forming a hierarchical structure. C₃N₄-Zn/BWO with 2.0 g of precursor addition and calcined at 520 °C exhibited effectively enhanced photodegradation for typical organic contaminant BPA, degrading 93% within 120 min, and implied a maximum rate constant k of 0.0211 min^-1, indicating synergistic effect of C₃N₄ and Zn components in C₃N₄-Zn/BWO heterojunction. The enhancement of photocatalysis was due to quick carriers' separations via Z-scheme system and enlarged specific surface area of as-synthesized C₃N₄-Zn/BWO heterojunction. Main reactive oxidation species were detected to be h⁺ and O₂^-, and nine intermediates were confirmed via anlysis of LC-MS/MS. This study provided an alternative strategy to design novel photocatalysts containing multicomponents for higher photocatalytic activity.

Facile synthesis of g-C3N4(0.94)/CeO2(0.05)/Fe3O4(0.01) nanosheets for DFT supported visible photocatalysis of 2-Chlorophenol

Visible light active g-C3N4(0.94)/CeO2(0.05)/Fe3O4(0.01) ternary composite nanosheets were fabricated by facile co-precipitation routes. The density functional theory (DFT) computations investigated changes in geometry and electronic character of g-C3N4 with CeO2 and Fe3O4 addition. Chemical and surface characterizations were explored with XRD, XPS, SEM, TEM, PL, DRS and Raman measurements. DRS and PL spectroscopy evidenced the energy band gap tailoring from 2.68 eV for bulk g-C3N4 and 2.92 eV for CeO2 to 2.45 eV for the ternary nanocomposite. Efficient electron/hole pair separation, increase in red-ox species and high exploitation of solar spectrum due to band gap tailoring lead to higher degradation efficiency of g-C3N4(0.94)/CeO2(0.05)/Fe3O4(0.01). Superior sun light photocatalytic breakdown of 2-Chlorophenol was observed with g-C3N4 having CeO2 loading up to 5 wt%. In case of ternary nanocomposites deposition of 1 wt% Fe3O4 over g-C3N4/CeO2 binary composite not only showed increment in visible light catalysis as predicted by the DFT studies, but also facilitated magnetic recovery. The g-C3N4(0.94)/CeO2(0.05)/Fe3O4(0.01) nanosheets showed complete mineralization of 25 mg.L-1 2-CP(aq) within 180 min exposure to visible portion of sun light and retained its high activity for 3 consecutive reuse cycles. The free radical scavenging showed superoxide ions and holes played a significant role compared to hydroxyl free radicals while chromatographic studies helped establish the 2-CP degradation mechanism. The kinetics investigations revealed 2.55 and 4.04 times increased rate of reactions compared to pristine Fe3O4 and CeO2, showing highest rate constant value of 18.2 × 10-3 min-1 for the ternary nanocomposite. We present very persuasive results that can be beneficial for exploration of further potential of g-C3N4(0.94)/CeO2(0.05)/Fe3O4(0.01) in advance wastewater treatment systems.