Simultaneous decolorization of anionic and cationic dyes by 3D metal-free easily separable visible light active photocatalyst

Abstract

To overcome the hard and costly post-treatment separation of ultrathin graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets (UGCN), it was supported on polyurethane foam (PUF). The ratio of PUF/UGCN was optimized for the removal of a mixture of methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) dyes. The characteristics of the composite photocatalyst and its photocatalytic performance were detailly studied. The X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared results proved the successful preparation of UGCN and PUF and that the PUF/UGCN composite combines the features of both pure materials. The transmission electron microscopy illustrated the ultrathin nanosheet shape of the UGCN, while the scanning electron microscope showed the highly porous 3D-hierarchical structure of PUF. Compared to the pure components, the composite photocatalyst with PUF/UGCN mass ratio of 4 achieved better decolorization of MO and almost same decolorization of MB as UGCN. Neutral pH and 1 g/L of the composite photocatalyst were the optimum conditions for MB/MO mixture decolorization. The composite photocatalyst kept its efficiency for five successive cycles. Hydroxyl radicals were the dominant in the degradation of MB, while superoxide radicals were the most influencer in MO degradation. Conclusively, supporting UGCN onto PUF kept the photocatalytic efficiency of UGCN toward MB decolorization and improved its efficiency toward MO. Moreover, it enabled the reuse of the composite photocatalyst and facilitated the post-treatment separation process.

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“…This may be due to the fact that at basic pH more number of hydroxyl groups of basic dye solution suppresses the oxidation of water and dye molecules to generate the hydroxyl radicals. In an alkaline medium, both negatively charged catalyst and anionic dye molecules may repel each other and cause a decline in the degradation process [22].…”

ZnO doped C: Facile synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic degradation of dyes

“…Nanostructure defects are critical in defining the properties and performance of nanostructures in the targeted applications 14 . Without enforced parameter like pH and Temperature few of photocatlysts have an efficient degradation impact of both anionic and cationic dyes 15 , 16 . Two-dimensional materials are sheet-like nanomaterials that are made of thin multiple layers with a thickness of several nanometers 17 , 18 .…”

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“…The situation has become alarming because the XDR Salmonella strains have now spread in the entire country and are causing high morbidity and mortality. Many advanced countries such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, etc, have reported the detection of XDR Salmonella cases and unfortunately, the majority of these cases had a travel history to Pakistan [19][20][21][22][23].…”