Novel marigold-like CuO@Cu-based MOFs composite photocatalyst for high-performance removal of alkylphenol ethoxylate under visible light. Issue 6 (December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Dan; Zhu, Ruofei; Lou, Jiangfei; Yuan, Jiugang; Xu, Jin; Fan, Xuerong
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental chemical engineering. Volume 9:Issue 6(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-12
• Subjects: MOF -- Photocatalyst -- Alkylphenol ethoxylate -- Wastewater purification; Chemical engineering -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental engineering -- Periodicals; Chemical engineering -- Environmental aspects; Environmental engineering; Periodicals; 660.0286
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2021.106434
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2213-2929

Abstract

Abstract: Alkylphenol polyethoxylate (APEOn ) is an emerging contaminant mainly referred to nonylphenol polyethoxylate (NPEOn ) and octylphenol polyethoxylate (OPEOn ). A novel multiscale rough composite photocatalyst (CuO@Cu-H3 BTC) with marigold-flower nanosheets and sub-micron flakes was successfully constructed for photodegradation of OPEOn and NPEOn under visible light. Several technologies (such as SEM, EDS, FTIR, XRD, XPS and EPR) were utilized to characterize the structures and properties of the as-obtained sample. The effect of OPEOn and NPEOn removal by CuO@Cu-H3 BTC MOF and the influence of reaction conditions on the removal efficiency were explored. It was found that 96% of OPEOn and 79% of NPEOn were removed under the action of adsorption in darkness and degradation in visible light irradiation within 120 min when treating 25 mg/L OPEOn and NPEOn solution with 1.6 g/L of CuO@Cu-H3 BTC MOF composite. The corresponding OPEOn and NPEOn removal efficiency could still achieve almost 72% and 51% after the CuO@Cu-H3 BTC MOF was recycled five times, respectively. The degradation mechanism of APEOn investigation revealed that the free radicals and holes generated in the CuO@Cu-H3 BTC MOF degraded APEOn, and the existence of holes was confirmed to play the major role through quenching experiment. In summary, this facile and novel CuO@Cu-H3 BTC MOFs composite photocatalyst boosts the application platform in wastewater treatment. Graphical Abstract: The endocrine pollutant alkylphenol polyethoxylate (APEOn ) has a wide range of potential sources and poses a serious health threat to human beings. Here, we prepared a multiscale rough composite photocatalyst with micro-flower nanosheets and sub-micron flakes to photodegradation of APEOn under visible light. ga1 Highlights: A novel multiscale rough composite photocatalyst with marigold-flower nanosheets and sub-micron flakes was constructed. The composite photocatalyst realized excellent photocatalytic degradation of APEOn . The possible reaction pathway and mechanism of the photodegradation of APEOn by the composite photocatalyst were speculated.