Critical roles of Co‐doped g‐C3N4/Bi2WO6 in photocatalytic removal of organic pollutants and treating oil field wastewater in electrocatalysis‐microbial fuel cells

Abstract

AbstractBACKGROUNDPhotocatalysts with Z‐type heterojunction structures for organic pollutant removal are prospective in environmental advanced oxidation processes. Introducing single metal atom to the heterojunction can further improve the synergistic activity of photocatalysts, so we doped Co single metal atom in g‐C3N4/Bi2WO6 Z‐type heterojunction.RESULTSFor this aim, a simple calcination and hydrothermal method was used to dope single atom Co on top of the Z‐type 10 wt% g‐C3N4/Bi2WO6 heterojunctions which we had tested previously. The optimal Co doping was determined at 0.2 wt% Co/10 wt% g‐C3N4‐Bi2WO6, that it most efficiently degraded (100 mg/L) RhB under visible light irradiation (99.7% in 30 min, kinetic rate constant 0.182 min −1). This single‐atom doped catalysts (Co/g‐C3N4/Bi2WO6) should be most favorably used in treating practical wastewater in EC (electro‐chemical)‐MFC (microbial fuel cell) system. Its remarkable performance was recorded (96% COD removal and 92.8% TOC removal).CONCLUSIONThe reactive oxidizing species include h+, 1O2, ·O2−, e−, and OH, they act together leading to the rapid degradation of pollutants. The developed Co‐doped ternary catalyst has promising application prospects in pollution control in real world wastewater treatment. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.