TiO2/g-C3N4 photocatalyst for the purification of potassium butyl xanthate in mineral processing wastewater

• Published in: Journal of environmental management Vol. 297; p. 113311
• Main Authors: Zhang, Minghui, Han, Ning, Fei, Yawen, Liu, Jiaojiao, Xing, Lingbao, Núñez-Delgado, Avelino, Jiang, Man, Liu, Shaomin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2021
• Subjects: electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy; energy; environmental management; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; G-C3N4; hot water treatment; irradiation; Mineral processing; nanosheets; photocatalysis; photocatalysts; Photodegradation; photolysis; potassium; reflectance spectroscopy; spectrometers; TiO2; transmission electron microscopes; Wastewater; X-radiation; X-ray diffraction; X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy; Photodegradation; Wastewater; G-C3N4; TiO2; Mineral processing
• ISSN: 0301-4797; 1095-8630; 1095-8630
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113311

In the present work, TiO2-graphite-phase-carbon-nitride (TiO2/g-C3N4) was prepared through a hydrothermal method to obtain a new photocatalytic material. This material was characterized by means of scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray energy spectrometer (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Solid-state UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectrometry (UV–Vis-DRS) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). The synthesized TiO2/g-C3N4 exhibited homogeneous morphology, in which TiO2 nanoparticles were uniformly distributed on the g-C3N4 nanosheets. Regarding its potential use as photocatalytic material in the treatment of mineral processing wastewater, 18% TiO2/g-C3N4 showed superior photodegradation performance than TiO2 and g-C3N4, to give 97.1% degradation rate under 100 min of simulated light irradiation. The experimental results showed that the successful incorporation of TiO2 on g-C3N4 nanosheets enhanced the spectral response range of TiO2/g-C3N4, and the photocatalytic activity was improved. In view of that, it can be considered that this kind of photocatalytic material has a good prospect in the treatment of mineral processing wastewater, which would have clearly environmental relevance. [Display omitted] •TiO2@g-C3N4 photocatalytic catalyst was prepared through a hydrothermal method.•TiO2@g-C3N4 catalyst was applied for the treatment of mineral processing wastewater.•18% TiO2@g-C3N4 showed superior photocatalytic performance than TiO2 and g-C3N4.