Fabrication of Z-scheme Bi7O9I3/g-C3N4 heterojunction modified by carbon quantum dots for synchronous photocatalytic removal of Cr (VI) and organic pollutants

Chromium(VI) (Cr(VI)), a highly toxic metal ion, generally co-exists with organic pollutants in industrial effluents. The clean and effective technology for water purification is an imperative issue but still a challenging task. A series of Bi7O9I3/g-C3N4 (BOI/CN) composites modified by lignin-derived carbon quantum dots (CQDs) were fabricated by hydrothermal method and applied for synchronous photocatalytic removal of Cr (VI) and levofloxacin (LEV). With the modification of CQDs in BOI/CN heterojunction, the 0.5-CQD/BOI/CN photocatalyst (0.5% content of CQDs) exhibited stronger light-harvesting capacity, more efficient charge separation, and faster electron transfer. Compared to those of BOI (51.2%), CN (36.8%), and BOI/CN (74.4%), the photoreduction efficiency of Cr(VI) reached up to 100% by 0.5-CQD/BOI/CN under 60 min of light irradiation, together with 94.8% degradation efficiency of LEV. The degradation of LEV was dominantly controlled by active species (center dot OH and center dot O-2(-)) identified by electron paramagnetic resonance analysis and free radical trapping experiments. The intermediates of LEV were determined by LC-MS and the possible degradation pathway was speculated in combination with density functional theory calculation, involving defluorination, decarboxylation,

Automated summary

In this study, Bi7O9I3/g-C3N4 composites modified by lignin-derived carbon quantum dots (CQDs) were used for the synchronous photocatalytic removal of Cr(VI) and levofloxacin (LEV). The 0.5-CQD/BOI/CN photocatalyst showed enhanced light-harvesting capacity, charge separation efficiency, and electron transfer rate. Under 60 minutes of light irradiation, the photoreduction efficiency of Cr(VI) reached 100% and the degradation efficiency of LEV was 94.8%. The intermediates of LEV and the possible degradation pathway were determined and speculated using LC-MS analysis and density functional theory calculation, respectively.