Solar light photocatalytic transformation of heptachlorobiphenyl (PCB 180) using g-C3N4 based magnetic porous photocatalyst

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials 2022-04, Vol.427, p.128105-128105, Article 128105
• Main Authors: Wang, Hui, Zhang, Chenyu, Kong, Lingru, Wang, Yi, Zhang, Sijia, Zhang, Xiulian, Ding, Jie, Ren, Nanqi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: GCN nanosheets; PCB180; Photocatalyst; Porous structure; Solar light driven
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.128105

A novel porous core-shell magnetic β-cyclodextrin/graphitic carbon nitride photocatalyst (Mβ-CD/GCN) was synthesized and employed in a solar light driven catalytic system for the degradation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The Mβ-CD/GCN display superior photocatalytic performance on account of porous structure and ultrathin GCN nanosheets design, the former improves the utilization of visible light by multiple scattering and reflection of incident light, and the latter accelerates electron transfer. The ultrahigh specific surface area (1255 m2 g−1) of Mβ-CD/GCN provided a large number of active sites for adsorption and degradation of the target pollution. The pseudo-first order reaction rate constant (kobs) for the degradation of PCB180 by Mβ-CD/GCN was 0.021 min−1, which improved 3.23 times than the bulk GCN. Additionally, the effects of various reaction parameters and water matrices were studied on the degradation of PCB180. Three possible degradation pathways and mechanism of PCB180 were speculated according to the identification of reaction intermediates and detection of reactive species. The solar light driven Mβ-CD/GCN catalytic technology is a promising method not only for the control of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), but also the catalyst could be recovered and reused through simple magnetic separation. [Display omitted] •Degradation of PCB180 is achieved by porous core-shell Mβ-CD/GCN under solar light.•Ultrahigh specific surface area (1255 m2 g−1) of Mβ-CD/GCN provides great active sites.•PCB180 is gradually transformed into alcohols, ketones and fatty acids.•Chlorine atoms are removed from biphenyl and generate tetrachloroethylene.