Photocatalytic Degradation of Chlorinated Hydrocarbons: The By-Product of the Petrochemical Industry Using Ag-Cu/Graphite Bimetallic Carbon Nitride

Elsayed G. Blall, Monica Toderas (), Abbas A. Ezzat, Hossam A. Abdou, Amira S. Mahmoud and Fathy Shokry
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Elsayed G. Blall: Petrochemical Department, Faculty of Engineering, Pharos University, Alexandria 21526, Egypt
Monica Toderas: Faculty of Sciences, University of Oradea, University St. No. 1, 410087 Oradea, Romania
Abbas A. Ezzat: Petrochemical Department, Faculty of Engineering, Pharos University, Alexandria 21526, Egypt
Hossam A. Abdou: Petrochemical Department, Faculty of Engineering, Pharos University, Alexandria 21526, Egypt
Amira S. Mahmoud: Department of Environmental Studies, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research (IGSR), Alexandria University, Alexandria 21568, Egypt
Fathy Shokry: Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Portsaid University, Portsaid 42511, Egypt

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 22, 1-19

Abstract: In this study, the author improved and modified g-C 3 N 4 by doping it with the metals Ag and Cu, which changed the photochemical properties of g-C 3 N 4 , narrowed the band gap, and improved the photocatalytic performance regarding quantum efficiency. Organic hydrocarbons such as 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE) are very stable prepared materials produced as intermediates to obtain polyvinyl chloride, and the prepared photo-catalyst is an innovative method for extreme decomposition of chlorinated hydrocarbons. However, some significant results were obtained using different analysis techniques. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed that the addition of Ag and Cu-NPS partially altered the structure of pure graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4 -Pure). Scanning electron microscopy (TEM) analysis revealed that the morphological features of Ag-Cu/g-C 3 N 4 contain quantum dots of Ag and Cu nanoparticles in addition to 2d-g-C 3 N 4 . The better separation of the photo-generated charge carriers is attributed to better photoactivity in the case of 0.3 g Ag-Cu/g-C 3 N 4 with a reaction time of less than 30 min. Furthermore, the Ag-Cu/g-C 3 N 4 recycling experiment showed that the catalyst remained stable after three stages of the pyrolysis experimental cycle. Another clear indicator of DCE degradation is the measurement using the titration of the Cl ions released by the decomposition.

Keywords: 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE); photocatalytic degradation: g-C 3 N 4; Ag-Cu/g-C 3 N 4; waste liquid; organic pollutants; photo-generated charge (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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