Simultaneous photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) and oxidation of bisphenol A induced by Fe(III)–OH complexes in water

Abstract

Simultaneously photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) and oxidation of bisphenol A (BPA) in aqueous solution in the presence of Fe(III)–OH complexes were investigated under a 250 W metal halide lamp ( λ ≥ 365 nm). Synergy effect of the simultaneous photocatalytic oxidation and reduction of both pollutants was achieved. The effects of initial pH value, initial concentration of BPA, Cr(VI) and Fe(III) were preliminarily investigated. The results showed that both photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) and degradation of BPA could occur simultaneously in the Fe(III)/Cr(VI)/BPA ternary system, and the rates of photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) and the oxidation of BPA were more rapid at a low pH range of 2.0–3.0. The increase of the initial concentration of Fe(III) was favorable to both photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) and oxidation of BPA. The reduction efficiency of Cr(VI) decreased with increasing initial concentrations of Cr(VI) and BPA, but the degradation efficiency of BPA was not changed obviously at different Cr(VI) concentrations.