Robust graphitic carbon nitrite-based thermoset coating for synergistic adsorption–photocatalysis process in 3D-printed photoreactors

Abstract

With the rapid advances in photocatalytic nanomaterials and 3D printing technology, the present work involves the incorporation of these two technologies for a green wastewater treatment. At the preliminary stage, a visible-light-sensitive photocatalyst, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) homojunction, was synthesized via facile hydrothermal approach. Additionally, the photocatalytic reactors were then constructed via digital light processing (DLP) technique. Four (4) comprehensive 3D-printed photoreactors coated with metal-free g-C3N4 homojunction semiconductor were assembled and arranged in series for degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB). The surface morphology of 3D printed reactor with g-C3N4 based thermoset coating was analyzed using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The photocatalytic system successfully removed 93.46 % of RhB via adsorption and photocatalysis within 8 h under the irradiation of two 50 W LED lights. The photoreactors also exhibited excellent recyclability with negligible drop in its photocatalytic efficiency after three continuous experimental runs. The mechanism for RhB photodegradation underlying g-C3N4 homojunction was also proposed based on scavenging tests. In essence, the experimental outcome may elicit more interdisciplinary research interest between photocatalysis and 3D printing in addressing current global environmental issues.

Keywords

• Digital light processing
• Graphitic carbon nitride
• Photocatalysis
• Adsorption
• 3D printing