Abstract
Herein, novel ternary kaolin/CeO2/g-C3N4 composite was prepared by sol-gel method followed by hydrothermal treatment. The self-assembled 3D “sandwich” structure consisting of kaolin, CeO2 and g-C3N4 nanosheets, was systematically characterized by appropriate techniques to assess its physicochemical properties. In the prerequisite of visible-light irradiation, the removal efficiency of ciprofloxacin (CIP) over the kaolin/CeO2/g-C3N4 composite was about 90% within 150 min, 2-folds higher than those of pristine CeO2 and g-C3N4. The enhanced photocatalytic activity was attributed to the improved photo-induced charge separation efficiency and the large specific surface area, which was determined by electrochemical measurements and N2 physisorption methods, respectively. The synergistic effect between the kaolin and CeO2/g-C3N4 heterostructure improved the photocatalytic performance of the final solid. The trapping and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) experiments demonstrated that the hole (h+) and superoxide radicals (•O2−) played an important role in the photocatalytic process. The photocatalytic mechanism for CIP degradation was also proposed based on experimental results. The obtained results revealed that the kaolin/CeO2/g-C3N4 composite is a promising solid catalyst for environmental remediation.
Highlights
Water pollutants have attracted considerable attention from all levels of society because of the increasing challenges in environmental concerns and energy demands [1]
The X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of kaolin/CeO2 /g-C3 N4 composite displayed the characteristic peaks of g-C3 N4 and CeO2 at 27.64◦ and at 28.4◦, respectively, while the characteristic peaks of kaolin were not visible due to the loss of structural ordering and dehydroxylation during the calcination
The results indicated that the rate constant of the reaction over kaolin/CeO2 /g-C3 N4 composite was of 0.01022 min−1, which was about 2.36 and 2.85 folds higher than those for pure CeO2 and g-C3 N4, respectively
Summary
Water pollutants have attracted considerable attention from all levels of society because of the increasing challenges in environmental concerns and energy demands [1]. One of the most important semiconductor materials is cerium oxide (CeO2 ), which is used in a wide range of industrial applications, such as catalytic reactions, solar and fuel cells This is due to its appealing low cost, high chemical stability, high oxygen storage capacity and strong advantages [29,30,31,32,33]. It would be an excellent strategy to combine the g-C3 N4 /CeO2 heterostructure with a natural mineral, such as kaolinite, to synthesize a ternary photocatalyst with enhanced photocatalytic activity, since both adsorption capacity and adsorption of visible light can be increased [29,46,47]. Based on the obtained experimental results, the mechanism of photocatalytic degradation over kaolin/CeO2 /g-C3 N4 composite was proposed
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
