Visible Light–Induced Photocatalytic Degradation of 2,4,6‐Trichlorophenol Using Polyfuran/Polypyrrole Organic Photocatalysts

Abstract

With a view to utilize an organic photocatalyst for the degradation of organic pollutant under visible light irradiation, the study reports degradation of 2,4,6‐trichlorophenol (TCP) utilizing a visible light active organic photocatalyst—polyfuran (PFu), polypyrrole (PPy), and their co‐oligomers formulated in the weight ratios of PFu/PPy 20/80, 50/50, and 80/20. Comprehensive characterization of PFu, PPy, and their co‐oligomers was conducted using UV–visible spectrometry, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM‐EDS). Under visible light irradiation, 100% of 40 ppm TCP was successfully degraded within a short duration of 30 min using 20 mg of the PFu/PPy‐50/50 catalyst. Furthermore, LCMS analysis of the degraded organic pollutant fragments provided insights into the tentative degradation process.