Preparation of C3N4/montmorillonite composite photocatalyst for effective removal of organic pollutants. Issue 10 (29th April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: You, Xujia; Wu, Limei; Wang, Deqiang; Xue, Zhichao; Zhao, Mingyu; Wang, Xiaolong; Liu, Qingxin; Tang, Ning
• Is Part Of: Environmental technology. Volume 43:Issue 10(2022)
• Page Start: 1513
• Page End: 1521
• Publication Date: 2022-04-29
• Subjects: Photocatalytic -- C3N4 -- montmorillonite -- melamine -- methylene blue; Environmental engineering -- Periodicals; Environmental protection -- Periodicals; 628.05
• DOI: 10.1080/09593330.2020.1841303
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-3330

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Due to the good photocatalytic performance, which ensures the decomposition of pollutants under light, g- C3 N4 is considered as an ideal photocatalytic material. Montmorillonite has a high adsorption capacity and layered structure, which has positive effects on increasing the specific surface area of g-C3 N4 and avoid its polymerization agglomeration. In this paper, montmorillonite was used as carrier for g-C3 N4 to obtain a new photocatalytic composite g-C3 N4 /Mt. Then the morphological and (micro)structural properties were characterized. The well-characterized materials were evaluated for the photocatalytic activity in degradation of methylene blue and Bisphenol A. The effects of the mass fraction of g-C3 N4, light irradiation time, and pollutant concentration on the photocatalytic performance of g-C3 N4 /Mt composites were studied. Under the optimal experimental plan, the rate of photocatalytic degradation can reach to 99.3% within 120 min. Through the MS spectrum, it can be found that methylene blue molecule were catalysed and degraded into many harmless substances with low-molecular weight. Finally, based on the obtained reaction products, the mechanism by which the pollutants are removed was proposed. This study provides a new strategy to improve the photocatalysis ability of g-C3 N4, which is of great significance for a sustainable pollution treatment. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: UF0001