Visible light photocatalytic removal performance and mechanism of diclofenac degradation by Ag3PO4 sub-microcrystals through response surface methodology

In this study, high visible light response and charge separation efficiency of body-centered cubic Ag3PO4 sub-microcrystals were fabricated through ultrasound-precipitation process. Additionally, the parameters were optimized by photocatalytic (PC) removal degradation of diclofenac based on response surface methodology. Results indicated that the PC removal efficiency of diclofenac was significantly affected by Ag3PO4 content and pH value. Under the optimized conditions, 99.9% of diclofenac could be degraded within 16 min Xenon illumination. Furthermore, three PC removal degradation pathways of diclofenac were proposed, including OH-adduct to aromatic ring, direct oxidation by photoinduced holes and decarboxylation of side chain from the parent compound. (C) 2017 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.