Photocatalytic degradation of dyes by AgBr/Ag3PO4 and the ecotoxicities of their degraded products

Ag3PO4 powders were prepared through a precipitation reaction between AgNO3 and precipitating agent solutions that were prepared by adjusting the amount of H3PO4 in the Na3PO4 solutions. The Ag3PO4 powders prepared from the precipitation solution with a pH of 6 showed the highest photocatalytic activity for decolorizing the methylene blue and rhodamine B dyes. These Ag3PO4 powders were further modified by the addition of KBr solutions to obtain AgBr/Ag3PO4 powders and these photocatalysts can decolorize the anionic dyes as reactive orange and methyl orange. The reactive species involved in the photocatalytic degradation process were evaluated for their inhibitory activity using the appropriate scavengers. After photocatalysis, mass spectrometry confirmed that the dyes were degraded to smaller molecules. The ecotoxicities of the dye solutions before and after treatment were evaluated by studying their ability to inhibit the growth of the bioindicator Chlorella vulgaris.

Graphical AbstractAgBr/Ag3PO4 powders were successfully synthesized using a one-pot ion-exchange method and showed promising photocatalytic activity for organic dye degradation under visible light.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide