Activated carbon-decorated polyacrylonitrile fibers and their porphyrin-immobilized composites for removal of methylene blue dye and Ciprofloxacin in water

Abstract

Photocatalyst adsorbents are an appealing group of materials for environmental applications. Herein, we study a new simple, inexpensive, yet very effective adsorbent photocatalyst based on porphyrin immobilized activated carbon-decorated polyacrylonitrile, InP(PAN/AC), for removal of methylene blue dye and Ciprofloxacin in water under Xe-lamp and sunlight irradiation (the latter for Ciprofloxacin only). Our results shed light on developing the most effective and sustainable adsorbent photocatalysts that can easily be industrialized due to the ease of preparation through electrospinning coupled with the readily available preparation materials. After five cycles, the InP(PAN/AC) maintained high methylene dye removal efficiency and structural integrity. Significantly, we propose the coordinated contribution of singlet oxygen and hydroxyl radical in the photodegradation process and highlight the importance of such an integrated system with adsorption and photodegradation capabilities for water treatment.

Graphical abstract

Keywords:

• Activated carbon
• adsorption
• Ciprofloxacin
• indium porphyrin
• methylene blue
• photocatalysis
• polyacrylonitrile fibers

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa through the DSIus-flow/NRF South African Research Chairs Initiative for Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Nanotechnology (UID 62620), Rhodes University, United States International University-Africa and Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), (UID 108569-001), and DSI/Mintek Nanotec Innovation Center-Sensors.

Data availability statement

The raw/processed data required to reproduce these findings are available on request