Photocatalytic degradation of Pyrene and derivatives by Ag3PO4/BiOBr supported on Ni foam

Pyrene (Pyr) and its derivatives are classified as Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), which exhibit significant toxicological effects and pose serious threats to ecosystems. Photocatalytic technology is increasingly employed for the remediation of POPs due to its effective and environmentally sustainable degradation capabilities. However, conventional photocatalytic materials, primarily in powder form, face challenges related to separation and recovery from aqueous environments, significantly limiting their practical application. In this study, we successfully synthesized a three-dimensional (3D) porous immobilized photocatalytic material by decorating Ag 3 PO 4 and BiOBr onto Ni foam (NF) using a hydrothermal method combined with continuous ionic layer adsorption. The results demonstrated Ag 3 PO 4 /BiOBr/NF exceptional light degradation capabilities, achieving over 90 % degradation of Pyr, 1-methylpyrene, and 1-hydroxypyrene, as well as over 40 % degradation of 1-nitropyrene under visible light irradiation over a duration of 5 h. Its degradation efficiency decreased by 12.49 % after five cycles, demonstrating its reusability. The roles of superoxide radicals ( O 2 – ) and holes (h + ) were critical in the degradation process. Furthermore, based on experimental findings, we proposed a Z-type heterojunction degradation mechanism for the Ag 3 PO 4 /BiOBr/NF composite, accompanied by an analysis of the potential degradation pathways for Pyr. Consequently, the recyclable immobilized photocatalytic materials developed in this research contribute novel insights into the photocatalytic degradation of POPs.