title: Activation of peroxymonosulfate by graphitic carbon nitride loaded on activated carbon for organic pollutants degradation.
abstract: Graphitic carbon nitride supported on activated carbon (g-C3N4/AC) was prepared through an in situ thermal approach and used as a metal free catalyst for pollutants degradation in the presence of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) without light irradiation. It was found that g-C3N4 was highly dispersed on the surface of AC with the increase of surface area and the exposition of more edges and defects. The much easier oxidation of C species in g-C3N4 to CO was also observed from XPS spectra. Acid Orange 7 (AO7) and other organic pollutants could be completely degraded by the g-C3N4/AC catalyst within 20min with PMS, while g-C3N4+PMS and AC+PMS showed no significant activity for the reaction. The performance of the catalyst was significantly influenced by the amount of g-C3N4 loaded on AC; but was nearly not affected by the initial solution pH and reaction temperature. In addition, the catalysts presented good stability. A nonradical mechanism accompanied by radical generation (HO and SO4(-)) in AO7 oxidation was proposed in the system. The CO groups play a key role in the process; while the exposure of more N-(C)3 group can further increase its electron density and basicity. This study can contribute to the development of green materials for sustainable remediation of aqueous organic pollutants.
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Engineering, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430073, China.
authors.forename: Mingyu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Engineering, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430073, China.
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Engineering, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430073, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430073, China.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Engineering, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430073, China.
authors.forename: Wenxuan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430073, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoxia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Engineering, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430073, China; Engineering Research Center for Clean Production of Textile Dyeing and Printing, Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430073, China. Electronic address: xahspinel@sina.com.
authors.forename: Aihua
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Xu
keywords: Activated carbon; Degradation; Graphitic carbon nitride; Organic pollutants; Peroxymonosulfate