Facile one-step hydrothermal synthesis of α-Fe2O3/g-C3N4 composites for the synergistic adsorption and photodegradation of dyes. Issue 50 (17th September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Tao; Huang, Manqi; Liu, Xiawei; Zhang, Zhen; Liu, Yonghong; Tang, Wei; Bao, Shaopan; Fang, Tao
• Is Part Of: RSC advances. Volume 9:Issue 50(2019)
• Page Start: 29109
• Page End: 29119
• Publication Date: 2019-09-17
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1039/c9ra05100g
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2046-2069

Abstract

Abstract : Simple one-step hydrothermal synthesis of α-Fe2 O3 /g-C3 N4 composites for the synergistic adsorption and photodegradation of dyes Abstract : With the expansion of industrialization, dye pollution has become a significant hazard to humans and aquatic ecosystems. In this study, α-Fe2 O3 /g-C3 N4 - R (where R is the relative percentage of α-Fe2 O3 ) composites were fabricated by a one-step method. The as-prepared α-Fe2 O3 /g-C3 N4 -0.5 composites showed excellent adsorption capacities for methyl orange (MO, 69.91 mg g −1 ) and methylene blue (MB, 29.46 mg g −1 ), surpassing those of g-C3 N4 and many other materials. Moreover, the ionic strength and initial pH influenced the adsorption process. Relatively, the adsorption isotherms best fitted the Freundlich model, and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model could accurately describe the kinetics for the adsorption of MO and MB by α-Fe2 O3 /g-C3 N4 -0.5. Electrostatic interaction and π–π electron donor–acceptor interaction were the major mechanisms for MO/MB adsorption. In addition, the photocatalytic experiment results showed that more than 79% of the added MO/MB was removed within 150 min. The experimental results of free-radical capture revealed that holes (h + ) were the major reaction species for the photodegradation of MO, whereas MB was reduced by the synergistic effect of hydroxyl radicals (·OH) and holes (h + ). This study suggests that the α-Fe2 O3 /g-C3 N4 composites have an application potential for the removal of dyes from wastewater.