Effective Utilization of Sulfur Wastewater by Photocatalytic System Using B/CuO/ZnO

Abstract

B-doped zinc oxide/copper oxide composites prepared using a simple method showed high photocatalytic hydrogen production activity in the presence of aqueous sulfide solutions. Co-modification of the CuO composite with B-doping caused an increase in the charge separation efficiency and light absorption capacity. The sacrificial effect was thermodynamically enhanced by manipulating the composition of the sulfide solution. A maximum hydrogen production activity of 224 μmol g−1 h−1 was achieved under 450 nm light irradiation in a photocatalytic system with optimized B doping, a CuO composite, and a sulfide sacrificial agent concentration.

Keywords

• photocatalysis
• ZnO
• visible light
• B-doped
• CuO
• purification of sulfide effluent