CuO/g-C3N4 Photocatalytic Synergistic Persulfate Activation for Degradation of Phenol Wastewater

A CuO/g-C₃N₄ composite catalyst was synthesized via a one-step hydrothermal-calcination method. The load of CuO on g-C₃N₄ was confirmed by characterization methods, while maintaining the inherent structure of the g-C₃N₄ matrix. Comprehensive characterization using SEM, XRD, FT-IR, and XPS confirmed the successful deposition of CuO on g-C₃N₄ while preserving the intrinsic structure of the g-C₃N₄ matrix. The photocatalytic performance was evaluated through phenol degradation in a peroxydisulfate assisted system under visible light irradiation. The composite exhibited remarkable catalytic activity, achieving 83.52% phenol removal efficiency within the reaction period. Notably, the catalyst maintained 68.89% degradation efficiency after five consecutive cycles, demonstrating excellent recyclability. Mechanistic studies through radical quenching experiments and XPS analyses revealed that the degradation process predominantly follows a radical pathway, where photogenerated holes and sulfate radicals play pivotal roles.

Graphical Abstract