Efficient removal of parabens from real water matrices by a metal-free carbon nitride photocatalyst

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2020

Authors

Raquel A. Fernandes (Author) Other; Sampaio, M.J. (Author) FEUP; Goran Drazic (Author) Other; Joaquim L. Faria (Author) FEUP; Cláudia G. Silva (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Science of the Total Environment

Vol. 716

Pages: 1-12

ISSN: 0048-9697

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus - 13 Citations

Associated Projects

LED-NETmix - LED-NETmix: um fotoreator inovador para a intensificação de processos em síntese química

IF/00514/2014/CP1249/CT0004 - Desafiando a síntese em química fina: uma nova abordagem utilizando fotocatalisadores isentos de metais

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00R-CJD

DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135346

Abstract (EN): Metal-free graphite-like carbon nitride (GCN-500) was obtained by thermal post-treatment of bulk polymeric carbon nitride at 500 degrees C. The catalyst was thoroughly characterized by morphological, optical and textural analysis techniques. The efficiency of GCN-500 was evaluated under visible (lambda(exc) = 417 nm) LED excitation for the photocatalytic degradation of methyl-, ethyl- and propyl-paraben in different water matrices either isolated or in a mixture of the three compounds. The GCN-500 proved to be more efficient than the benchmark TiO2 P25, with complete conversion of the individual parabens within 20 min of irradiation, contrasting with 120 min needed for total degradation using TiO2. Experiments in the presence of selected scavengers confirmed the high importance of superoxide radicals in the photocatalytic oxidation of parabens using GCN-500. The effect of the nature of the aqueous matrix in the kinetics of the photocatalytic process was assessed using ultrapure, tap and river waters spiked with a mixture of the three parabens. Although still very efficient, the complexity of the real water samples turned the degradation process slower due to the presence of other components such as ions and dissolved organic matter. GCN-500 proved to be stable in a continuous-flow system using GCN-500 coated glass rings (GCN-500-GR) to remove MP, EP and PP from real water matrices.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 12