Abstract

This study focused on the modification of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) using carbon which was obtained from the pyrolysis of coconut shell husk. The sonocatalytic performance of the synthesized samples was then studied through the degradation of malachite green. In this work, pure g-C3N4, pure carbon and carbon/g-C3N4 composites (C/g-C3N4) at different weight percentages were prepared and characterized by using XRD, SEM-EDX, FTIR, TGA and surface analysis. The effect of carbon amount in the C/g-C3N4 composites on the sonocatalytic performance was studied and 10 wt% C/g-C3N4 showed the best catalytic activity. The optimization study was conducted by using response surface methodology (RSM) with a central composite design (CCD) model. Three experimental parameters were selected in RSM including initial dye concentration (20 to 25 ppm), initial catalyst loading (0.3 to 0.5 g/L), and solution pH (4 to 8). The model obtained was found to be significant and reliable with R2 value (0.9862) close to unity. The degradation efficiency of malachite green was optimized at 97.11% under the conditions with initial dye concentration = 20 ppm, initial catalyst loading = 0.5 g/L, solution pH = 8 after 10 min. The reusability study revealed the high stability of 10 wt% C/g-C3N4 as sonocatalyst. In short, 10 wt% C/g-C3N4 has a high potential for industrial application since it is cost effective, reusable, sustainable, and provides good sonocatalytic performance.

Highlights

  • Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutralMalaysia is a developing country that is currently experiencing economic growth with a rapid transition to an urban and industrialized society

  • The C/g-C3 N4 composites at different weight percentages were prepared by adding a 0.05 g, 0.25 g, 0.5 g, 0.75 g, 1.00 g and 1.25 g of carbon in the urea to obtain 1 wt%

  • There were three peaks observed at 2θ = 27.5◦, 37.9◦, and 44.1◦ in the X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) pattern of pure g-C3 N4

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Summary

Introduction

Malaysia is a developing country that is currently experiencing economic growth with a rapid transition to an urban and industrialized society. This change has created various environmental problems including water pollution caused by the increase in the discharge of wastewater in Malaysia [1]. Water pollution impacts greatly the sustainability of water resources [2,3]. This implies that the discharge of untreated wastewater is a major challenge which must be monitored strictly in order to establish sustainable development. The discharge of dye effluent from industry is one of the root causes of water pollution. The presence of dye with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations

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