Adsorption-photocatalysis synergistic removal of contaminants under antibiotic and Cr(VI) coexistence environment using non-metal g-C3N4 based nanomaterial obtained by supramolecular self-assembly method

Due to the rapid development of modern industry, the coexistence of antibiotics and inorganic heavy metals pollutants in wastewater has become a universal phenomenon. Therefore, developing efficient and eco-friendly photocatalyst for mixed pollutants degradation is significant. In this work, a well-designed phosphorus and sulfur co-doped g-C3N4 with feeble N vacancies catalyst (P/S-g-C3Nx) was fabricated by supramolecular self-assembly method, and was applied to remove berberine hydrochloride (BH) and Cr(VI) simultaneously with the synergy of adsorption-photocatalysis. A series of experiments was conducted to unveil the synergistic mechanism. The kinetic models indicated that the adsorption of P/S-g-C3Nx improved the BH removal process by accelerating the photo-degradation, because the adsorption rate > surface degradation rate > bulk degradation rate. Besides, the photo-degradation process improved the BH removal rate by regenerating the adsorption sites of P/S-g-C3Nx. Moreover, from the experiments in BH-Cr(VI) mixed solution system, the existence of BH also enhanced the surface adsorption of Cr(VI) in P/S-g-C3Nx sample, and the reduction rate of Cr(VI) was also promoted with the existence of BH. Overall, the results of this investigation suggest that the adsorption-photocatalysis synergy method is an efficient way to eliminate organic pollutant and Cr(VI) simultaneously.

Automated summary

The coexistence of antibiotics and inorganic heavy metals pollutants in wastewater has become a universal phenomenon due to the rapid development of modern industry. Developing efficient and eco-friendly photocatalysts to degrade mixed pollutants is significant. The synergistic mechanism of adsorption-photocatalysis was unveiled through a series of experiments, demonstrating the efficient removal of organic pollutants and Cr(VI) simultaneously.