Photocatalytic debromination of decabromodiphenyl ether by graphitic carbon nitride

The graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) is found to be an efficient photocatalyst for the reductive degradation of decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE209) under UV irradiation (> 360 nm). g-C3N4 was prepared by heating dicyandiamide. X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and UV-vis spectra were used to characterize the properties of as-prepared catalysts. The photoreductive degradation kinetics of BDE209 was further investigated under different reaction conditions. The degradation of BDE209 is a stepwise process, and the bromines at meta positions are much more susceptible to remove than those at the ortho and para positions. A possible photoreductive mechanism was also proposed.