Novel Ag3PO4 modified tubular carbon nitride with visible-light-driven peroxymonosulfate activation: A wide pH tolerance and reaction mechanism

In this study, we fabricated the novel Ag3PO4 modified tubular porous carbon nitride (Ag3PO4@TPCN12) photocatalyst and evaluated its photocatalytic activity under the visible light irradiation in the presence of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) through carbamazepine (CBZ) degradation in water. The apparent rate constant in Vis/10% Ag3PO4@TPCN12/PMS system (0.0927 min?1) exhibited great superiority over that in Vis/TPCN12/PMS (0.0227 min-1), Vis/Ag3PO4/PMS (0.0019 min-1), and even Vis/(Ag3PO4 + TPCN12)/PMS (0.0646 min?1) systems. Importantly, a wide pH tolerance (3.0-9.0) was shown in Vis/10%Ag3PO4@TPCN12/PMS system. Multifarious reactive species involving SO4 center dot?, HO center dot, 1O2, and photo-generated holes primarily responsible for the CBZ degradation were verified. The degradation pathways of CBZ were proposed, and the ecotoxicity of CBZ degradation products was assessed. In general, the Vis/10%Ag3PO4@TPCN12/PMS system was capable of high stability and benign resistance of water matrix, showing a hopeful practical application potential for organic compounds degradation in water.

Automated summary

In this study, a novel Ag3PO4 modified tubular porous carbon nitride (Ag3PO4@TPCN12) photocatalyst was fabricated and its photocatalytic activity for organic compound degradation was evaluated under visible light irradiation. The results showed that the photocatalyst exhibited excellent degradation performance in the presence of peroxymonosulfate (PMS), with a wide pH tolerance. Various reactive species were identified as the main contributors to the degradation process. This study has significant implications for the degradation of organic compounds in water.