An overview: recent development of semiconductor/graphene nanocomposites for photodegradation of phenol and phenolic compounds in aqueous solution

Abstract

The development of graphene-based nanocomposites is currently the issue of enormous research interest. Recent advancements have exhibited that semiconductor/graphene nanocomposites can be purposed as a promising new category of catalysts for the heterogeneous photocatalytic treatment of wastewaters. Since semiconductor/graphene nanocomposites have been found efficient in degradation of organic pollutants, photodegradation of phenol and phenolic compounds as hazardous contaminants in aqueous solution has been most widely investigated by these aforementioned nanocomposites. In the present review, after introduction on the properties and the different synthesis methods of semiconductor/graphene nanocomposites, we will discuss the application of these nanocomposites, in fields of photodegradation of phenol and phenolic compounds in aqueous solution.

Mechanistic insight of structural and optical properties of BiOCl in the presence of CNTs and investigating photodegradation of phenol by BiOCl/CNT composites

“…Additionally, phenol is a weakly adsorbing compound on the surface of several catalysts. 32 Due to the wide band gap of BiOCl, no photocatalytic activity was observed for phenol under visible light. The degradation efficiency of the sample was in the range between 30–45% under UV-A irradiation.…”

Immobilized Enzyme-based Novel Biosensing System for Recognition of Toxic Elements in the Aqueous Environment

“…Some of the contaminants such as organophosphorus compounds, when degraded, form phenolic compounds. Phenolic compounds such as bisphenol A, chlorophenol 321, phenol, guaiacol and catechol, even in very low concentrations, can cause damage to living beings causing genotoxicity and mutagenicity, they can also repress photosynthesis and some reactions catalyzed by enzymes [111]. The main enzymes used for the detection of phenolic compounds in the environment are laccase, tyrosinase, peroxidases and xanthine oxidase.…”

Application of polyoxometalates in photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants

“…Photocatalysis degradation has been demonstrated as one of the successful methods for the removal of phenolic compounds in wastewater. [117,118] POMs have already been used as photocatalysts for phenol oxidation for a long time. [119] Recently, significant progress has been made in the degradation of phenolic compounds with POMbased composite photocatalysts.…”