Adsorptive and photocatalytic properties of Ag-loaded BiVO4 on the degradation of 4-n-alkylphenols under visible light irradiation

Silver fine-particles loaded on BiVO4 photocatalyst by an impregnation method remarkably improve adsorptive and photocatalytic performance on the degradation of long-chain alkylphenols such as 4-n-nonylphenol (NP) and 4-n-octylphenol (OP). The Ag-loaded BiVO4 powders strongly adsorb NP and OP, which is attributable to silver oxides (Ag2O and/or AgO) partly covered on the silver surface. The specific adsorption property disappears when the surface silver oxides are reduced in a H2 stream. Degradation rates and CO2 mineralization yields for NP are increased by the Ag loading on BiVO4.