Solar Degradation of Sulfamethazine Using rGO/Bi Composite Photocatalysts
Heterogeneous photocatalysts for water decontamination were obtained by the optimized synthesis of bismuth-functionalized reduced graphene oxide (rGO/Bi) using the Hummer method and microwave treatment. Sulfamethazine (SMZ) was used as model pollutant to evaluate the photocatalytic efficacy. Photoca...
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MDPI AG
2020-05-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/10/5/573 |
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| author | María Fernández-Perales Marisa Rozalen Manuel Sánchez-Polo José Rivera-Utrilla María Victoria López-Ramón Miguel A. Álvarez |
| author_facet | María Fernández-Perales Marisa Rozalen Manuel Sánchez-Polo José Rivera-Utrilla María Victoria López-Ramón Miguel A. Álvarez |
| author_sort | María Fernández-Perales |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Heterogeneous photocatalysts for water decontamination were obtained by the optimized synthesis of bismuth-functionalized reduced graphene oxide (rGO/Bi) using the Hummer method and microwave treatment. Sulfamethazine (SMZ) was used as model pollutant to evaluate the photocatalytic efficacy. Photocatalysts were characterized by VP-SEM, HRTEM, XDR, XPS, RAMAN, and FTIR analyses, which confirmed the effective reduction of GO to rGO and the presence of bismuth as a crystalline phase of Bi<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> polydispersed on the surface. Their performance was influenced by the rGO/Bi ratio, microwave temperature, and treatment time. The as-obtained 5%rGO/Bi composite had the highest photocatalytic activity for SMZ degradation under visible light irradiation (λ > 400 nm), achieving 100% degradation after only 2 h of treatment. The degradation yield decreased with higher percentages of rGO. Accordingly, the rGO/Bi catalysts efficiently removed SMZ, showing a high photocatalytic activity, and remained unchanged after three treatment cycles; furthermore, cytotoxicity tests demonstrated the nontoxicity of the aqueous medium after SMZ degradation. These findings support the potential value of these novel composites as photocatalysts to selectively remove pollutants in water treatment plants. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:43:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-eba904b0be3645e0b1240b49ec3c6f87 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4344 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:43:18Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Catalysts |
| spelling | doaj.art-eba904b0be3645e0b1240b49ec3c6f872023-11-20T01:03:28ZengMDPI AGCatalysts2073-43442020-05-0110557310.3390/catal10050573Solar Degradation of Sulfamethazine Using rGO/Bi Composite PhotocatalystsMaría Fernández-Perales0Marisa Rozalen1Manuel Sánchez-Polo2José Rivera-Utrilla3María Victoria López-Ramón4Miguel A. Álvarez5Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, SpainDepartment of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, SpainDepartment of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, SpainDepartment of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, SpainDepartment of Inorganic and Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Experimental Science, University of Jaen, 23071 Jaen, SpainDepartment of Inorganic and Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Experimental Science, University of Jaen, 23071 Jaen, SpainHeterogeneous photocatalysts for water decontamination were obtained by the optimized synthesis of bismuth-functionalized reduced graphene oxide (rGO/Bi) using the Hummer method and microwave treatment. Sulfamethazine (SMZ) was used as model pollutant to evaluate the photocatalytic efficacy. Photocatalysts were characterized by VP-SEM, HRTEM, XDR, XPS, RAMAN, and FTIR analyses, which confirmed the effective reduction of GO to rGO and the presence of bismuth as a crystalline phase of Bi<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> polydispersed on the surface. Their performance was influenced by the rGO/Bi ratio, microwave temperature, and treatment time. The as-obtained 5%rGO/Bi composite had the highest photocatalytic activity for SMZ degradation under visible light irradiation (λ > 400 nm), achieving 100% degradation after only 2 h of treatment. The degradation yield decreased with higher percentages of rGO. Accordingly, the rGO/Bi catalysts efficiently removed SMZ, showing a high photocatalytic activity, and remained unchanged after three treatment cycles; furthermore, cytotoxicity tests demonstrated the nontoxicity of the aqueous medium after SMZ degradation. These findings support the potential value of these novel composites as photocatalysts to selectively remove pollutants in water treatment plants.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/10/5/573rGO/Bi compositesphotocatalystsmicrowavesolar radiationsulfamethazine |
| spellingShingle | María Fernández-Perales Marisa Rozalen Manuel Sánchez-Polo José Rivera-Utrilla María Victoria López-Ramón Miguel A. Álvarez Solar Degradation of Sulfamethazine Using rGO/Bi Composite Photocatalysts Catalysts rGO/Bi composites photocatalysts microwave solar radiation sulfamethazine |
| title | Solar Degradation of Sulfamethazine Using rGO/Bi Composite Photocatalysts |
| title_full | Solar Degradation of Sulfamethazine Using rGO/Bi Composite Photocatalysts |
| title_fullStr | Solar Degradation of Sulfamethazine Using rGO/Bi Composite Photocatalysts |
| title_full_unstemmed | Solar Degradation of Sulfamethazine Using rGO/Bi Composite Photocatalysts |
| title_short | Solar Degradation of Sulfamethazine Using rGO/Bi Composite Photocatalysts |
| title_sort | solar degradation of sulfamethazine using rgo bi composite photocatalysts |
| topic | rGO/Bi composites photocatalysts microwave solar radiation sulfamethazine |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/10/5/573 |
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