Complete removal of Tetracycline by sonophotocatalysis using ultrasound-assisted hierarchical graphitic carbon nitride nanorods with carbon vacancies. (January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Preeyanghaa, Mani; Vinesh, Vasudevan; Neppolian, Bernaurdshaw
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 287:Part 4(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-01
• Subjects: Graphitic carbon nitride -- Hierarchical nanorods -- Carbon vacancy -- Sonophotocatalytic degradation -- Tetracycline antibiotics; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132379
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Abstract: Tuning a graphitic carbon nitride (CN) structure is an effective strategy to advance its physicochemical and electronic properties. Herein, hierarchical CN nanorods with carbon vacancy were synthesized via ultrasound-assisted thermal polycondensation method wherein melamine-HONH2 ·HCl complex acts as a template. The hierarchical CN nanorods can facilitate multiple light scattering, provide large specific surface area with extensive reactive sites and endow abundant mass-transport channels for charge migration. The existence of carbon vacancies can serve as shallow charge trapping sites and prompt charge separation. Consequently, hierarchical CN nanorod possessed excellent sonophotodegradation efficiency of ∼100% towards Tetracycline (TC) antibiotic within 60 min under ultrasonic irradiation and visible light illumination. Moreover, the sonophotocatalytic degradation was higher than the sum of sonocatalytic and photocatalytic TC degradation using hierarchical CN nanorods due to its synergistic performance. A plausible sonophotocatalytic mechanism and TC degradation pathway using hierarchical CN nanorod were proposed. Lastly, hierarchical CN nanorod is durable and stable which can withstand the sonophotocatalytic condition even after the fifth run. This work offers an insight into hierarchical CN nanorod to advance sonophotocatalytic degradation performance for highly efficient removal of various recalcitrant pollutants. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Tuning a graphitic carbon nitride (CN) structure to hierarchical CN nanorod (CN-MH). CN-MH facilitate multiple light scattering and provide large specific surface area. Carbon vacancy in CN-MH serve as charge trapping site and prompt charge separation. Complete removal of Tetracycline by sonophotocatalysis using CN-MH within 60 min.