Solar-induced efficient propylparaben photodegradation by nitrogen vacancy engineered reticulate g-C₃N₄: Morphology,...

Propylparaben (PrP) has attracted extensive concerns due to its wide occurrence in wastewater and potential health risk. Herein, nitrogen vacancy engineered reticulate g-C₃N₄ (Nv-RCN) was successfully synthesized for the photodegradation of PrP. Nv-RCN exhibited larger specific surface area, greater light absorption ability, higher transfer and separation efficiency of charge carriers in comparison with bulk g-C₃N₄ (CN). According to the characterization results and DFT calculation, nitrogen vacancy could capture electrons and facilitate oxygen adsorption. The Nv-RCN exhibited an outstanding PrP removal efficiency of 94.3 %, and the corresponding apparent rate constant of Nv-RCN was 3.37 times higher than that of CN. High O₂ concentration (8 mg/L) and low pH value (pH = 3) promoted PrP photodegradation based on Box-Behnken Design. The O₂^- was the major radical during PCOP of Nv-RCN, and could oxidize PrP by decarbonylation and dealkylation. This study provided new insights to the improvement of photodegradation performance of g-C₃N₄ for parabens removal and related environmental remediation.