Bifunctional iron-modified graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) for simultaneous oxidation and adsorption of arsenic

Iron-modified graphitic carbon nitride (FG materials) was prepared through a simple and cost-effective method using iron oxide and melamine to achieve simultaneous oxidation and adsorption of arsenic. We hypothesized that graphitic carbon nitride oxidizes As(III) to As(V) under light irradiation, and the converted As(V) is adsorbed by the amorphous iron phase on FG materials. FG materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectra, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, specific surface area, ultraviolet-visible light spectroscopy, photoluminescence, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. As(III) was efficiently transformed to As(V) due to the photocatalytic-oxidation ability of graphic carbon nitride under visible and UV light irradiation, the oxidized As(V) was adsorbed by the amorphous iron phases, and As species were removed from the system. The removal efficiency of As(III) decreased from 50%, 41%, and 33% under UV light, visible light and dark, respectively. FG materials exhibited the photocatalytic-oxidation ability and adsorption capacity, and a synergistic effect was observed between graphitic carbon nitride and iron oxide. Removal of As can be achieved even under visible light, confirming the field applicability of low-cost FG materials.