g-C3N5/MgAlBi-LDHs heterojunction for removal of Cr(VI) and tetracycline complex pollutants from wastewater: Synergistic redox-photocatalytic activity
摘要
Using an in-situ growth method, a g-C3N5/Bi-doped MgAl layered double hydroxide (g-C3N5/MgAlBi-LDHs) composite was developed as a novel photocatalyst for the decomposition of tetracycline (TC), an organic contaminant, and the detoxification of heavy-metal ions (Cr(VI)) in wastewater via synergistic oxidation and reduction. The g-C3N5/MgAlBi-LDHs-1/10 composite exhibited synchronous removal efficiencies of nearly 99% for both Cr(VI) (10 mg/L) and TC (10 mg/L) owing to the successful construction of a Z-scheme heterojunction. Using the composite, the removal rates of Cr(VI) were 10 and 6 times higher than those achieved with the LDHs and g-C3N5 individually, and the removal of TC was 8 and 6 times higher, respectively. After photocatalysis, toxic Cr(VI) was reduced to non-toxic Cr(III), and TC was decomposed to CO2 under visible-light irradiation. At high concentrations of the composite pollutant (40 mg/L), the composites exhibited removal efficiencies reaching 90% and 85% for Cr(VI) and TC, respectively. Following four cycling experiments, the adsorption-photocatalytic efficiency of the composite remained at 95% for the removal of Cr(VI) and TC composite pollutants. Overall, g-C3N5/MgAlBi-LDHs-1/10 has great application prospects in the adsorption-photocatalytic treatment of wastewater containing Cr(VI) and TC composite pollutants.