Photocatalytic degradation of bisphenol A in the presence of C-doped ZnO: Effect of operational parameters and photodegradation mechanism

• C-doped ZnO photocatalyst was synthesized by hydrothermal method.
• Operational parameters were studied on the degradation and mineralization of BPA.
• The L–H kinetic model has been used to describe the photodegradation process.
• A simple and direct photodegradation mechanism of BPA is proposed.

C-doped ZnO with different molar ratio of carbon content were synthesized by hydrothermal method. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, nitrogen physisorption, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transformed infrared, UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectra. The C-doped ZnO catalysts exhibited excellent photoactivity on bisphenol A degradation under UV irradiation in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Under optimized conditions, C-doped ZnO reached 100% BPA degradation and 70% BPA mineralization after 24 h of UV irradiation. The photocatalytic degradation was found to follow the Langmuir–Hinshelwood kinetic model. Furthermore, the detail degradation mechanism was investigated by the analysis of intermediates.

Proposed photocatalytic degradation pathway of BPA in the presence of 4% C-doped ZnO/UV/H2O2 system.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide