The bonding and intercalation efficacy of polyethyleneimine enhanced BiOBr semiconductor-organic framework degradation and detoxification of bisphenol AF

Photocatalysis is a promising method for water pollution treatment, but it is challenged due to its low efficiency and insufficient understanding of the toxicity after degradation. In this work, we construct a polyethyleneimine-enhanced BiOBr semiconductor organic framework (PEI/BiOBr SOF) by utilizing PEI's bonding and intercalation effects. PEI/BiOBr SOF enhances the photocatalytic degradation of bisphenol AF (BPAF) at a reaction rate 10 times that of BiOBr. Under the dual effects of intercalation and bonding, PEI/BiOBr SOF can realize extended the light absorption, increase the specific surface area and surface-active sites, inhibit carrier complexation, and promote the production of reactive oxygen species. The toxicity changes of the BPAF were evaluated by combining chemical product analysis and biological toxicity experiments. The mutual validation of the toxicity prediction results of the ECOASR product and the zebrafish toxicity experiment confirmed that the toxicity of BPAF decreased after degradation. Furthermore, the mechanism of photocatalytic degradation and detoxification of BPAF with PEI as the circuit of charge transmission of the BiOBr SOF was proposed.