Vitamin C assisted synthesis of rGO-Ag/PANI nanocomposites for improved photocatalytic degradation of pharmaceutical wastes

A highly efficient visible light active polyaniline (PANI)/Ag composites grafted reduced graphene oxide (rGO-Ag/PANI) was prepared for the efficient photocatalytic degradation of paracetamol. The structural, morphological, and light absorption properties of the as-synthesized rGO-Ag/PANI were characterized by UV-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Paracetamol was taken as a model water pollutant to investigate the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of the rGO-PANI/Ag nanocomposites under visible light radiation. The result shows the degradation of paracetamol to be 99.6% in the acidic medium (pH 5) and 75.76% in the basic medium (pH 9), respectively. The enhanced degradation efficiency is attributed to the synergetic effect of rGO, PANI, and Ag NPs in the nanocomposites. This synergy of the rGO-Ag/PANI is explained by the strong adsorption efficiency, charge separation, and light absorption in the visible region.

Automated summary

The research focuses on the photocatalytic degradation of paracetamol using rGO-PANI/Ag nanocomposites under visible light, achieving degradation rates of 99.6% in acidic medium and 75.76% in basic medium. The enhanced degradation efficiency is attributed to the synergistic effect of rGO, PANI, and Ag NPs in the nanocomposites, leading to strong adsorption efficiency, charge separation, and light absorption in the visible region.