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Updated: Jun 3, 2025
A Complete Method for Evaluating the Performance of Photocatalysts for the Degradation of Antibiotics in Environmental Remediation
Published on: October 6, 2022
Interface dependent electron shunting in graphene-integrated intimately coupled photocatalytic biodegradation
Ajinkya Kishor Ranade1, Akira Yamaguchi2, Masahiro Miyauchi2
1JSPS International Research Fellow, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Science Tokyo, 2-12-1, Meguro- Ku, Tokyo, 152-8552, Japan.
Intimately coupled photocatalytic biodegradation (ICPB) using bismuth vanadate/reduced graphene oxide composites shows that improved interface contact enhances photoelectron transfer, significantly boosting tetracycline hydrochloride removal efficiency in wastewater treatment.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Intimately coupled photocatalytic biodegradation (ICPB) is a promising wastewater treatment method for persistent organic pollutants.
- The interaction between photocatalysts and biofilms, specifically photoelectron transfer, is crucial but not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of interfacial contact between photocatalysts and biofilms on photoelectron transfer and ICPB performance.
- To engineer bismuth vanadate/reduced graphene oxide composites with varying contact degrees for ICPB.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of BiVO4/rGO composites with low (LC) and high (HC) interfacial contact.
- Application of fabricated composites in ICPB for tetracycline hydrochloride degradation.
- Photoelectrochemical measurements to analyze charge carrier separation and photoelectron transfer.
Main Results:
- Composites exhibited interface-dependent optical, structural, and charge carrier properties.
- Higher interfacial contact (BiVO4/rGO-HC) facilitated greater photoelectron shunting from photocatalyst to biofilm.
- BiVO4/rGO-HC achieved a superior degradation rate (0.035 h⁻¹) compared to BiVO4/rGO-LC (0.0128 h⁻¹) and BiVO4 (0.011 h⁻¹).
- BiVO4/rGO-HC demonstrated the lowest electrical energy consumption per order of removal.
Conclusions:
- Intimate interfacial contact is critical for efficient photoelectron shunting in ICPB.
- Engineering graphene at the photocatalyst-biofilm interface enhances charge separation and degradation efficiency.
- This study provides insights for designing energy-efficient ICPB systems for wastewater treatment.
