Method For Photocatalytic Degradation Research Articles

Optimization of the Photodegradation of Metoclopramide Drug using Super Nanoparticles in Aqueous Solutions

In the present research carry out to remove pharmaceutical pollutants as a model metoclopramide (MCP) drug from an aqueous medium utilizing a photocatalytic degradation method with super nanoparticles called TiO2 nanoparticles (NP). synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles by utilizing the hydrothermal processes. The physical characterizations of materials by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The results showed that the efficiency of the TiO2 nanoparticle increased by 88.88%. It also showed that the photocatalytic degradation rate increased with decreasing concentration of MCP drug increasing the intensity of the light led to an increase in the rate of photocatalytic degradation. Study effect of several factors, concentration on the drug, mass of nanoparticle, light intensity that the best conditions for the photocatalytic degradation of 0.3 g of the nanocomposite, MCP drug concentration of 50 m/L, pH solution 8, and light intensity 1.7 mW/Cm2, Thus, the photocatalytic degradation increased with decreasing the concentration of MCP drug. The obtained TiO2 nanoparticle exhibits best photocatalytic degradation than the commercial photo-catalysts TiO2 NPs. Finally, it is essential to evaluate the recycled photocatalytic degradation efficiency, which is one of the utmost significant factors towards photodegradation.

Cubic AgBiS2 Powder Prepared Using a Facile Reflux Method for Photocatalytic Degradation of Dyes.

The ternary chalcogenide AgBiS2 has attracted widespread attention in the field of photovoltaic and photoelectric devices due to its excellent properties. In this study, AgBiS2 powders with an average diameter of 200 nm were prepared via a simple and convenient reflux method from silver acetate, bismuth nitrate pentahydrate, and n-dodecyl mercaptan. The adjustment of the ratios of Ag:Bi:S raw materials and of the reaction temperatures were carried out to investigate the significance of the synthesis conditions toward the composition of the as-synthesized AgBiS2. The results of XRD indicated that the powders synthesized at a ratio of 1.05:1:2.1 and a synthesis temperature of 225 °C have the lowest bismuth content and the highest purity. The synthesized AgBiS2 crystallizes in a rock salt type structure with the cubic Fm3¯m space group. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, ultraviolet-visible-near-infrared spectra, and photocatalytic degradation performance were employed to characterize the as-synthesized samples. The results demonstrated that AgBiS2 powders display thermal stability; strong absorption in the ultraviolet, visible, and partial infrared regions; and an optical bandgap of 0.98 eV. The obtained AgBiS2 powders also have a good degradation effect on the methylene blue solution with a degradation efficiency of 58.61% and a rate constant of 0.0034 min-1, indicating that it is an efficient strategy for sewage degradation to reduce water pollution.

The impressive photocatalytic performance of Zn-MOF as a novel photocatalyst for the effective purification of dyes under solar exposure

The pollution induced by organic dyes is one of the paramount concerns worldwide. Therefore, it is critical to design an efficient preventative plan to address this issue. A novel photocatalyst Zn-MOF was successfully synthesized through the slow evaporation method for effective photocatalytic degradation upon solar light. The compound was characterized using varied characterization approaches, including XRD, TGA, SEM/EDS, XPS, FTIR, UV–vis, and EIS spectroscopy. Photocatalytic efficiencies were assessed by removing MV, RhB, and MB under solar exposure. Within 180 min, the findings revealed abatements of 94.3, 94.2, and 93 % for MV, RhB, and MB dyes, respectively. Additionally, Zn-MOF possesses outstanding reusability without losing activity for the first 5 cycles. Moreover, quenching experiments showed that •O2−, h+, and •OH recreated a pivotal role in the degradation process. An appropriate mechanism was proposed in light of previous Mott–Schottky and UV–vis spectroscopy findings. Altogether, this work illustrates that the Zn-MOF photocatalyst could be a promising prospect for environmental purification.

Optimizing physico-chemical properties of hierarchical ZnO/TiO2 nano-film by the novel heating method for photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics and dye

The design of semiconductor catalysts with excellent photocatalytic properties, stability, recyclability, and good separation for the treatment of polluted water is still challenging. In this paper, the ZnO/TiO2 nano-thin films were fabricated using the magnetron sputtering technique and then heating the underlying ZnO layer and the upper TiO2 layer for their respective optimal heating time, i. e. heating ZnO for 3 h and heating TiO2 for 2 h. The as-prepared films were characterized. The results show that the preferred growth of TiO2 grains along the [001] axis, relatively large specific surface area, and increased amounts of surface oxygen vacancies (OVs) were induced to the heterojunction catalysts through this optimized heating strategy, which boosts the photocatalytic activity of ZnO/TiO2 nano-film. The degradation experiment inndicates that the ciprofloxacin (CIP) removal efficiency can reach 97.3% in 2 h duration, which was higher than that of the samples annealed for the same periods. Meanwhile, the prepared ZnO/TiO2 photocatalytic film exhibited favorable stability of 95.5% degradation efficiency after the fourth run and general applicability for the photodegradation of various contantains, whih removed 99.5% of ofloxacin (OFX) and 77.6% of tetracycline (TC) in 2 h and 94.1% of Rhodamine B (RhB) in 1 h. This work is expected to yields a novel insight into the production of heterojunction photocatalysts with excellen ability for photocatalytic degradation of pollutants in the practical industry.

In-situ construction of Bi2WO6/Bi5O7I heterojunctions by room-temperature solvent method for efficient photocatalytic degradation

In the present work, the flower spherical Bi2WO6/Bi5O7I S-scheme heterojunction was constructed by solution precipitation under room-temperature for photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants and the working mechanism was investigated. As a special feature, 0.05 BWBOI performed the best photocatalytic capacity under visible light irradiation and was significantly able to degrade 98% of rhodamine B and 92% of bisphenol A in 90 min, whereas ciprofloxacin was degraded to 67% in 120 min. The composite structure was determined by XRD, FT-IR, XPS, and BET characterization, while the electron migration direction and heterojunction scheme were determined by electrochemical and ESR characterization. Eventually, addition of Bi2WO6 not only broadened the light absorption range of the composites, but also achieved the successful construction with Bi2WO6/Bi5O7I of S-scheme heterojunctions to accelerate the transport rate of photogenerated carriers. Finally, the current work presents a novel bismuth-based photocatalyst and offers new ideas for the facile preparation of semiconductor heterojunctions.

Simple ultrasonic integration of shapeable, rebuildable, and multifunctional MIL-53(Fe)@cellulose composite for remediation of aqueous contaminants

Metal-organic frames (MOFs) have been recognized as one of the best candidates in the remediation of aqueous contaminants, while the fragile powder shape restricts the practical implementation. In this work, a shapeable, rebuildable, and multifunctional MOF composite (MIL-53@CF) was prepared from MIL-53 (Fe) and cellulose fiber (CF) using a simple ultrasonic method for adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants in wastewater. The results showed MIL-53(Fe) crystals were uniformly growth on CF surfaces and bonded with surface nanofibrils of CF through physical crosslinking and hydrogen bonding. Because of the high bonding strength, the MIL-53@CF composite exhibited an excellent compressive strength (3.53 MPa). More importantly, the MIL-53@CF composite was rebuildable through mechanical destruction followed by re-ultrasonication, suggesting the excellent reusability of MIL-53@CF for water remediation. The MIL-53@CF composite also had high adsorption capacities for methyl orange (884.6 mg·g−1), methylene blue (198.3 mg·g−1), and tetracycline (106.4 mg·g−1). MIL-53@CF composite could degrade TC through photocatalysis. The photocatalytic degradation mechanism was attributed to the Fe(II)/Fe(III) transform cycle reaction of MIL-53 crystal located on MIL-53@CF. Furthermore, the mechanical property and remoldability of MIL-53@CF composite increased its practicability. Comprehensively, MIL-53@CF composite provided a possible strategy to practically apply MOF in the remediation of aqueous contaminants.

La and Cr co-doped SrTiO3 prepared by citric-combustion method for photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics under visible-light

La and Cr co-doped SrTiO3 prepared by citric-combustion method for photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics under visible-light

Stable Ta2O5 nanotubes decorated by PbS by the SILAR method for photocatalytic dye degradation

Tantalum oxide Ta2O5 nanotubes (NTs) were prepared by electrochemical anodization and were decorated with lead sulfide nanoparticles PbS (NPs) by Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction commonly known as the SILAR method. The PbS NPs/Ta2O5 NTs were characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM-EDX), Transmission Electron Spectroscopy (TEM), Photoluminescence (PL), and Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS). An increasing number of SILAR cycles applied on this substrate were shown to induce a variation in the optical properties and the bandgap of PbS NPs/Ta2O5 NTs. The bandgap went from 3.83 eV for bare Ta2O5 to 3.4 eV for Ta2O5 NTs decorated with 10 PbS SILAR cycles. Ten SILAR cycles were seen to correspond to 2.7 wt% and 1.4 M percentage of the decorated Ta2O5 NTs. Ten SILAR cycles were required to drive the fastest degradation kinetics of the Black Amido mediating Ta2O5 (NTs)-PbS NPs under light irradiation. However, longer SILAR cycles were not seen to faster the degradation kinetics due to light screening. The prepared nanotubes exhibited high stability over 5 photocatalytic reuse cycles.

Preparation of TiO2/activated carbon nanomaterials with enhanced photocatalytic activity in paracetamol degradation

Despite the advances in the photocatalytic degradation method to treat wastewater, obtaining efficient, stable, and cost-effective materials for this application is still challenging. The present study employed a simple and effective sol-gel method to prepare a photocatalyst consisting of titanium dioxide (TiO2) and activated carbon (AC). Four types of catalysts were obtained with different proportions of TiO2:AC, which were named TiO2/AC-05, TiO2/AC-10, TiO2/AC-30, and TiO2/AC-70. The surface area and the pore volume of TiO2 were significantly increased after incorporating AC, from 5% to 70%. X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy showed that TiO2 is present in the anatase phase, with a particle size distribution centered at 11 nm, obtained by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Moreover, TEM and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis confirmed the interaction of both materials, resulting in a TiO2/AC nanocomposite combination. All four combination types were evaluated as the photocatalyst for Paracetamol degradation to investigate which material has the best photocatalytic performance. TiO2/AC-30 showed the highest efficient activity and achieved about 95% of the Paracetamol photodegradation. Therefore, the TiO2/AC-30 nanocomposite can be reused because it showed activity after five cycles of Paracetamol photodegradation. This study indicates that TiO2/AC-30 can be a good candidate for water purification containing emergent contaminants.

High-gravity photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride under simulated sunlight

Oxygen can generate reactive oxygen species in photocatalysis, promoting organic matter's mineralization. Therefore, enhanced oxygenation of the photocatalytic degradation system will help improve photocatalytic degradation efficiency. This study developed a novel high-gravity photocatalytic degradation method, which leverages the robust gas–liquid mass transfer capability of a supergravity rotating bed to realize the enhanced oxygenation of the photocatalytic degradation system. Specifically, this study used graphitic carbon nitride as the catalyst and tetracycline hydrochloride as the model pollutant. The effects of packing thickness, catalyst concentration, liquid flow rate, rotor speed, gas flow rate, and initial pH value on photocatalytic degradation performance were investigated. The results showed that the degradation rate of tetracycline hydrochloride reached 84.6 % under the optimal conditions of the rotating packed bed, which was 14.8 % higher than that of the traditional photocatalytic degradation process.

FeSe2/TiO2 heterostructure as an efficient photocatalyst and their electrochemical energy storage applications

This paper reported the facile synthesis of FeSe2 and TiO2 and their different wt.% composites (75 and 50% of TiO2, here after FT-1 and FT-2) via solvothermal in/ex-situ sol-gel method for the first time efficient photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine removal and supercapacitor applications. Small bandgap energy was obtained for FT-1 samples from the optical analysis, with a more negligible band edge absorption. The result shows that the composite of FeSe2 and TiO2 increases the absorption, which collectively enhances the separation of the charge carriers and redox activities. The photocatalytic activities analysis demonstrated that the FT-1 sample reveals the fastest removal of the RB dye in just 60 min (FT-2, FeSe2, and TiO2 = 90, 100, and 180 min) with good stability (98%) after several cycles. As supercapacitor electrode materials, all electrodes showed well-defined peaks in their CV loops and voltage plateaus in their charge/discharge profile, illustrating the pseudocapacitive charge storage mechanism. No voltage decay was observed during many discharge currents from the charge/discharge investigation, demonstrating the chosen potential frame is a suitable window for the FeSe2 and TiO2 nanomaterials. The higher capacity of 295 (FT-1) than other electrodes (FeSe2, TiO2, and FT-2 = 220, 115, and 240 C/g) at 1 A/g was obtained to reach 180 at 10 A/g, resulting in an enhanced rate capability of 82%. The high rate capability is the cause of its more minor charge transfer resistance, resulting in higher conductivity and supporting rapid charge transport kinetics. These outstanding properties open a new avenue for other FeSe2 and TiO2 nanomaterials for efficient energy storage technologies.

Surface decoration of MnNiWO4 nanostructures on carbon nanofiber to build nanocomposites towards the removal of anionic azo and cationic dyes under light illumination

Herein, we report the preparation of manganese tungstate (MnWO4) nanosheets, nickel tungstate (NiWO4) nanoparticles, manganese nickel tungstate (MnNiWO4) hybrid nanostructures, and manganese nickel tungstate (MnNiWO4) hybrid nanostructures attached to the surface of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) using a simple hydrothermal and wet impregnation method. The prepared photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Ultraviolet–Visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–Vis DRS), Fluorescence spectroscopy (FL), Field emission scanning electron spectroscopy (FESEM), Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to investigate their crystal structure, optical and electrical properties, microstructure, elemental composition, and structural characteristics. The X-RD and TEM outcomes explain that both the pure and hybrid composite samples have a crystalline nature with nanosheets, nanoparticles, and hybrid nanostructures, which are attached to the carbon nanofibers. Compared to other samples, a significant red shift in the absorption and reduction of the energy band gap (2.81–2.35 eV) was observed for the MnNiWO4/CNF hybrid nanocomposite. Further, an anionic azo dye such as Orange II sodium salt (ONaS) was adopted to check out the photocatalytic activities of the synthesized samples. Under illumination, the MnNiWO4/CNF hybrid nanocomposite exhibited a high degradation efficiency (85%) compared to other photocatalysts. Additionally, this hybrid nanocomposite was used to degrade the anionic dye methyl orange (M.O) and cationic dye methylene blue (M.B) under illumination. The hybrid photocatalyst showed degradation efficiencies of 77% for methyl orange (M.O) and 61% for methylene blue (M.B). Furthermore, kinetic studies have shown that the photocatalytic degradation method follows pseudo-1st-order reaction kinetics. The high photocatalytic performance of the MnNiWO4/CNFs hybrid nanocomposite over other photocatalysts has been ascribed to their size, surface charge, electronic effect, and effective charge-transfer abilities.

Sustainable and energy-efficient photocatalytic degradation of textile dye assisted by ecofriendly synthesized silver nanoparticles

In this study, we have touched on two goals of sustainable development, namely, the provision of clean water and sanitation and clean energy at acceptable prices, hoping for good health for all ages. A green economical method was used to prepare silver nanoparticles from chitosan biopolymer. AgNPs were fully characterized using UV–Vis, FTIR, XRD, HR-TEM, and EDX analysis. Different concentrations (0.02–0.18 g/L) of the nanoparticles were integrated into a mixture of heterogeneous nano photocatalysts TiO2 and ZnO (1:1 weight ratio) under UV irradiation for the photocatalytic degradation of Acid Red 37 textile dye to obtain clean water. The kinetic description of the performed photocatalytic process was presented assuming a pseudo-first-order reaction. The data revealed that increasing the concentration of AgNPs in the catalytic mixture showed a high apparent rate constant (kapp) accompanied by an increase in the apparent quantum yield (%Qapp), followed by dye destruction after a very short time (t0.5 = 3 min). Since the photocatalytic degradation process consumes electrical energy, the electrical energy per order (EE/O) was calculated, showing a low value of 20 kWh/m3/order, using 0.18 g/L AgNPs, indicating that the elicited photocatalytic degradation method is a sustainable one for the mineralization of the targeted dye.

Green synthesis of Fe2O3 deposited g-C3N4: Addition of rGO promoted Z-scheme ternary heterojunction for efficient photocatalytic degradation and H2 evolution reaction

Construction of heterojunction photocatalysts with robust charge separation, efficiency light utilization and better charge transportation are hotspot in photocatalytic energy and environmental remediation applications. Herein, we have prepared the Z-scheme ternary heterojunction (rGO/g-C3N4/Fe2O3) photocatalysts using green tea extract assisted hydrothermal method for visible-light active photocatalytic degradation and H2 production. The heterojunction formation provides the more active sites for photocatalytic redox reaction in comparison with pure photocatalysts, which was confirmed by BET analysis. Moreover, elemental trapping experiment, photocurrent analysis, and band alignment derived from valance band XPS, clearly revealed that, the prepared photocatalyst shows Z-scheme charge separation. Photocatalytic activity demonstrated that, the prepared Z-scheme heterojunction exhibits 97 and 94% of degradation efficiency against methylene blue (MB) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) model organic pollutants. Moreover, the ternary heterojunction photocatalyst exhibits almost 100% of recycling efficiency towards H2 production even at 5th cycle with 20,786 μmol/g. Hence, we hope that this green synthesis approach would provide the new way to prepare the heterojunction photocatalysts for energy and environmental remediation applications.

Characterization and Gel Properties of Low-Molecular-Weight Carrageenans Prepared by Photocatalytic Degradation.

Low-molecular-weight carrageenan has attracted great interest because it shows advantages in solubility, absorption efficiency, and bioavailability compared to original carrageenan. However more environment-friendly and efficient methods to prepare low-molecular-weight carrageenan are still in great need. In the present study, a photocatalytic degradation method with only TiO2 has been developed and it could decrease the average molecular weight of κ-carrageenan to 4 kDa within 6 h. The comparison of the chemical compositions of the degradation products with those of carrageenan by FT-IR, NMR, etc., indicates no obvious removement of sulfate group, which is essential for bioactivities. Then 20 carrageenan oligosaccharides in the degradation products were identified by HPLC-MSn, and 75% of them possessed AnGal or its decarbonylated derivative at their reducing end, indicating that photocatalysis is preferential to break the glycosidic bond of AnGal. Moreover, the analysis results rheology and Cryo-SEM demonstrated that the gel property decreased gradually. Therefore, the present study demonstrated that the photocatalytic method with TiO2 as the only catalyst has the potential to prepare low-molecular-weight carrageenan with high sulfation degree and low viscosity, and it also proposed the degradation rules after characterizing the degradation products. Thus, the present study provides an effective green method for the degradation of carrageenan.

Synthesis of ultrathin porous g-C3N4 nanofilm via template-free method for photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline

Constructing high-performance visible-light responsive semiconductor photocatalysts for removing organic contamination from sewage has gained considerable attention recently. Herein, an ultrathin porous g-C3N4 nanofilm is fabricated via a facile template-free strategy and the large specific area, abundant nitrogen vacancies and ultrathin porous structure endow it with broad visible-light-responsive range, narrow bandgap as well as sufficient separation of photoinduced carriers. In consequence, the ultrathin porous g-C3N4 nanofilm exhibits prominent photocatalytic tetracycline (TC) degradation performance and high reaction rate constant under the visible light, which is upto 8.57 folds efficiency improvement over the bulk g-C3N4. Meanwhile, it also exhibits excellent performance with the irradiation of UV–vis light and actual sunlight. This work delivers a brand-new template-free approach to prepare ultrathin porous g-C3N4 nanofilm, and provides a deeper understanding of photocatalytic TC degradation for practical applications.

Influence of calcination temperature of TiO2 nanowires via hydrothermal method for photocatalytic degradation

TiO2 nanowires were prepared by hydrothermal method using tetrabutyl titanate as raw material and then calcined at various temperatures. The samples were characterized by Xray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The photocatalytic performance of TiO2 was analyzed by the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB). The formation mechanism of TiO2 nanowires was revealed in this study. The results showed that the calcination temperature had a great influence on the crystal structure and morphology of TiO2 nanowires. The TiO2 sample calcined at 650 °C exhibited higher photocatalytic activity due to the enhanced crystallinity and the nanowire structure with large specific surface area. As the calcination temperature exceeded 650 °C, the nanowire structure collapsed, leading to a decrease in the photocatalytic degradation efficiency

2D/2D BiOIO3/g-C3N4 S-scheme hybrid heterojunction with face-to-face interfacial contact for effective photocatalytic H2 production and norfloxacin degradation

A two-dimensional (2D)/2D hybrid heterojunction with face-to-face interfacial assembly is a desirable dimensionality design with significant potential for various photocatalytic applications due to the large interfacial contact area, which facilitates charge migration and separation. Herein, we developed an efficient 2D/2D hybrid heterojunction consisting of BiOIO3 nanoplates (BIO) and g-C3N4 nanosheets (CN) using a simple but effective in situ growth method for photocatalytic aqueous antibiotic degradation and H2 generation. The face-to-face interfacial assembly of the BIO and CN components in the BIO/CN hybrid heterojunction was verified using electron microscopy. Remarkably, the BIO/CN hybrid heterojunction outperformed both the BIO and CN counterparts in terms of norfloxacin degradation and H2 generation under simulated solar light irradiation. Moreover, the photocatalytic performance of the hybrid catalyst remained nearly unchanged throughout five consecutive test runs. The exceptional performance and stability of the hybrid catalyst are attributable to its extended optical absorption range, large interfacial contact area provided by the face-to-face assembly in the 2D/2D hybrid configuration, and enhanced photoexcited charge separation efficiency and redox power of the separated charges, which are supported by an efficient S-scheme charge transfer mechanism. This study illuminates the rational construction of novel 2D/2D S-scheme hybrid heterojunction photocatalysts with practical applications in environmental remediation and sustainable energy generation.

Synthesis, characterization, and application of 2D/2D TiO2-GO-ZnFe2O4 obtained by the fluorine-free lyophilization method for solar light-driven photocatalytic degradation of ibuprofen

In this study, we report the potential of 2D/2D TiO2-GO-ZnFe2O4 photocatalyst obtained using the fluorine-free lyophilization technique for the degradation of ibuprofen belonging to the group of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API). The improved ibuprofen degradation under simulated solar light was achieved in the presence of a composite of 2D TiO2 combined with GO and embedded ZnFe2O4, which additionally provides superparamagnetic properties and enables photocatalyst separation after the photodegradation process. After only 20 min of the photodegradation process in the presence of 2D/2D TiO2-GO-ZnFe2O4 composite, more than 90% of ibuprofen was degraded under simulated solar light, leading to non-toxic and more susceptible to biodegradation intermediates. At the same time, photolysis of ibuprofen led to the formation of more toxic intermediates. Furthermore, based on the photocatalytic degradation analysis, the degradation by-products and possible photodegradation pathways of ibuprofen were investigated. The photodegradation tests and electronic spin resonance analyses indicated the significant involvement of superoxide radicals and singlet oxygen in the ibuprofen photodegradation process.

Mesoporous graphitic carbon nitride/hydroxyapatite (g-C3N4/HAp) nanocomposites for highly efficient photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B dye

Recently, there is a rise in demand for low-cost natural source-derived photocatalysts for the degradation of harmful dyes. Here, we report new mesoporous g-C 3 N 4 /HAp nanocomposites prepared by a simple hydrothermal method for efficient photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) dye. Ultrafine g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets were synthesized from the polymerization of melamine and exfoliation of bulk g-C 3 N 4 . HAp nanoparticles were obtained by mixing mussel shell powder with Na 2 HPO 4 and microwave irradiation of the mixture. The g-C 3 N 4 (1-3 wt. %)/HAp was produced from hydrothermally reacting g-C 3 N 4 and HAp. XRD analysis of g-C 3 N 4 /HAp confirms the presence of g-C 3 N 4 and HAp phases. From FT-IR, Raman, NMR, and XPS spectra, the chemical bonds of g-C 3 N 4 /HAp were confirmed. The microscopic (SEM, TEM, and AFM) images illustrate the fine fusion of g-C 3 N 4 and HAp. BET and TG/DTA studies reveal that the g-C 3 N 4 /HAp is mesoporous in nature and is thermally stable. Optoelectronic properties indicate that g-C 3 N 4 /HAp’s luminescence changes with the g-C 3 N 4 concentration. In addition, g-C 3 N 4 /HAp showed high photocatalytic efficiency for RhB degradation (99%) in comparision to g-C 3 N 4 and HAp. The g-C 3 N 4 /HAp is recyclable and possesses good photochemical stability. Superoxide and hydroxyl radicals play a key role in the photodegradation of RhB. A reaction mechanism involving charge (electrons, holes) transfer at Z-scheme heterojunction of g-C 3 N 4 /HAp is proposed. This ‘green’ method, of g-C 3 N 4 /HAp synthesis from g-C 3 N 4 and biowaste-derived HAp, can potentially be applied for catalytic removal of pollutants from industrial effluents.