The enhanced photodegradation of bisphenol A by TiO2/C3N4 composites

• Published in: Environmental research 2020-03, Vol.182, p.109090, Article 109090
• Main Authors: Mei, Peng, Wang, Huihui, Guo, Han, Zhang, Ning, Ji, Sailun, Ma, Yapeng, Xu, Jiaqi, Li, Ying, Alsulami, Hamed, Alhodaly, Mohammed Sh, Hayat, Tasawar, Sun, Yubing
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: BPA; g-C3N4; Photocatalytic performance; TiO2
• ISSN: 0013-9351; 1096-0953
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.109090

A new photocatalyst of TiO2/C3N4 composite (TiO2/g-C3N4) was synthesized by the hydrothermal method. The characterization showed that TiO2/g-C3N4 extended absorption light range and enhanced generation efficiency of photo-induced electron. Under the simulated solar irradiation, the photodegradation rate of bisphenol A (BPA) by TiO2/g-C3N4 was twice as fast as that of g-C3N4. Furthermore, TiO2/g-C3N4 presented the good stability and excellent selectivity for BPA degradation. The high degradation rate of BPA by TiO2/g-C3N4 was demonstrated to be superoxide radical (·O2−) and singlet oxygen (1O2) by radical quenching experiment, which was further evidenced by EPR, XPS, DRS and PL analysis. These findings revealed that TiO2/g-C3N4 can be used as a potential photocatalyst for removing organic pollutants in actual environmental remediation. •Heterogeneous TiO2/g-C3N4 extended absorption-light range and photoelectron production.•TiO2/g-C3N4 display the good stability and high selectivity for BPA degradation.•BPA degradation was attributed to ·O2− and 1O2 radicals by EPR and XPS analysis.•C3N4-based composite was a promising photocatalyst for removing organic pollutants.