Photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B and phenol by solution combustion synthesized BiVO4 photocatalyst

Visible-light-induced BiVO4 photocatalyst has been successfully synthesized via a solution combustion synthesis (SCS) method. The photocatalytic activities of the as-synthesized sample were evaluated by the photodegradation of rhodamine B (RhB) and phenol under visible-light irradiation (λ > 420 nm). The decolorization of high-concentrated RhB (10− 4 M) and the variation of the chemical oxygen demand (COD), demonstrated that the BiVO4 photocatalyst was efficient in aromatic organic compounds degradation. The reduction of total organic carbon (TOC) (about 22.0% after 4.5 h of irradiation) showed that the mineralization of RhB over the BiVO4 photocatalyst is realized. Additionally, much enhanced photocatalytic performance for phenol degradation was also realized with the assistance of appropriate amount of H2O2.