Enhancing photocatalytic g-C3N4/PVDF membranes through new insights into the preparation methods

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2024

Authors

Vilamova, Z (Author) Other; Sampaio, MJ (Author) Other; Svoboda, L (Author) Other; Bednar, J (Author) Other; Simonova, Z (Author) Other; Dvorsky, R (Author) Other; Claudia G Silva (Author) FEUP; Faria, JL (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Polymer

Vol. 307

ISSN: 0032-3861

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

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Other information

Authenticus ID: P-010-4EZ

DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2024.127238

Abstract (EN): Fibrous membranes are crucial on the filtration of pollutants from air and water, but continued use can lead to a failure in effectiveness due to pollutant accumulation. To enhance durability, incorporating photocatalytic submicroparticles into these membranes appear as a solution. Here, we prepared a set of polyvinyl difluoride (PVDF) fibrous membranes modified with graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) using three different methodologies. Their photocatalytic efficiency was investigated using phenol as model pollutant compound under visible light irradiation. Using g-C3N4 fibrous membranes modified by electrospinning blend a pseudo first-order kinetic constant (kapp) of 2.51 x 10-4 min-1 was observed for phenol degradation after 240 min reaction. Despite minimal particle adhesion the thermal treatment increased kapp to 5.41 x 10-4 min-1. The membranes prepared via chemical activation of PVDF exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity (kapp of 21.7 x 10-4 min-1). This superior activity was attributed to covalent bonds between PVDF and g-C3N4, allowing the formation of oxidative species.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8