Photocatalytic degradation of chloroform using rGO-CuS nanocomposite under UV/VIS irradiation from gaseous phase.

Abstract

Environmental pollutants such as organic solvents pose potential hazards to the environment. One of the most commonly used solvents, chloroform, is known to cause heart attacks, respiratory problems, and central nervous system disorders. At the pilot scale, the efficacy of the photocatalytic process for removing chloroform from gas streams using the rGO-CuS nanocomposite was investigated. The results indicated that chloroform degradation at 1.5 L min*1 (74.6%) was more than twice as fast as at 2.0 L min-1 (30%). With increasing relative humidity, the chloroform removal efficiency increased up to 30% and then declined. Therefore, 30% humidity was found to be the optimal humidity for the photocatalyst. As the rGO-CuS ratio increased, the photocatalytic degradation efficiency decreased, and the chloroform oxidation rate increased at higher temperatures. The process efficiency increases with increasing pollutant concentrations until the vacant sites are saturated. After the saturation of these active sites, process efficiency does not change.