Photocatalytic degradation of bisphenol A by HMS/g-C₃N₄ composite

Abstract

In this work, hexagonal mesoporous silica/g-C₃N₄ (HMS/C₃N₄) was synthesized by heating a mixture of self-prepared HMS and dicyandiamide. The as-prepared materials were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FT-IR) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis (BET). The prepared photocatalysts were applied to decompose bisphenol A (BPA) under UV light illumination. The mass ratios of HMS to melamine were optimized. The results showed that optimal mass ratios HMS to dicyandiamide was 1:1. Even though with the same catalyst dosage (1.0 g/L), the degradation kinetic rate constant of BPA over HMS/C₃N₄ (0.00526 min⁻¹) was 1.76 times and 1.4 times than those on P25 (0.00298 min⁻¹) and pure C₃N₄ (0.00383 min⁻¹), while the rate constant of photolysis was only 0.00021 min⁻¹. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of the HMS/C₃N₄ composite was ascribed to higher specific surface area and less aggregation compared to the pure C₃N₄. It is feasible and efficient to degrade BPA by HMS/C₃N₄ composite, which is easier to be separated than pure C₃N₄ after the pollutant has been removed completely.

Keywords:

• Photocatalysis
• g-C₃N₄
• Mesoporous silica
• Bisphenol A

Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 21261026), Natural Science Foundation of Yunnan Province (2016FB014), Key Program of Yunnan Province Foundation (2013FA005).

Notes

Presented at the 8th International Conference on Challenges in Environmental Science & Engineering (CESE-2015) 28 September–2 October 2015, Sydney, Australia