Peroxymonosulfate improved photocatalytic degradation of atrazine by activated carbon/graphitic carbon nitride composite under visible light irradiation. (February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dangwang Dikdim, Jean Marie; Gong, Yan; Noumi, Guy Bertrand; Sieliechi, Joseph Marie; Zhao, Xu; Ma, Ning; Yang, Min; Tchatchueng, Jean Bosco
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 217(2019)
• Page Start: 833
• Page End: 842
• Publication Date: 2019-02
• Subjects: Photocatalysis -- Peroxymonosulfate -- Atrazine -- Graphitic carbon nitride -- Activated carbon; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.10.177
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Abstract: The photocatalytic degradation of atrazine by activated carbon/graphitic carbon nitride composites with peroxymonosulfate (PMS) was investigated under visible light irradiation. The photocatalysts were prepared at different activated carbon (AC) loaded percentages and characterized by XRD, FT-IR, BET surface area, SEM, UV–Vis absorbance, photocurrent response and EIS. Several parameters which might influence the degradation efficiency were studied including PMS concentration, solution pH, catalyst dosage, initial atrazine concentration as well as water matrix effect. The results indicated that incorporation of AC contributes effectively in suppressing the recombination of electron-holes pairs and enhancing the photocatalytic performance of graphitic carbon nitride. More significantly, the degradation efficiency of atrazine showed remarkable improvement with PMS addition under visible light irradiation. The reaction rate constant of the 10% AC/g-C3 N4 /Vis/PMS system (0.0376 min −1 ) was approximately 2.9 times higher than that of g-C3 N4 /Vis/PMS system (0.0128 min −1 ). Results from quenching tests revealed that both sulfate and hydroxyl radicals were involved in the degradation of atrazine, while the latter is the main contributor. This paper constitutes an insight for the metal-free catalyst activation of PMS by photocatalysis for environmental remediation. Highlights: Different AC percentages were successfully incorporated on g-C3 N4 . The incorporation of AC accelerates photogenerated charge carrier separation and PMS activation of g-C3 N4 . AC/g-C3 N4 showed outstanding photocatalytic activity for atrazine degradation with PMS under visible light irradiation.