Islanding of EuVO4 on high-dispersed fluorine doped few layered graphene sheets for efficient photocatalytic mineralization of phenolic compounds and bacterial disinfection

In present work, EuVO4 (EV) nanoparticles were dispersed over fluorine doped graphene sheets (FG24) to synthesize EV/FG24 nanocomposite. Few layered fluorine doped graphene sheets were prepared by sonochemical exfoliation method using NaF as fluorine source. FG24 and EV/FG24 composites were successfully characterized by FESEM, TEM, RAMAN, XRD, TGA, XPS, BET isotherm, FTIR, photoluminescence and UV-visible spectral techniques. AFM and RAMAN analysis confirmed the formation of fluorine doped graphene sheets. The high dispersion of EV/FG24 in water was ascertained by zeta potential measurement and Tyndall scattering experiment. The photocatalytic activity of EV/FG24 was tested for the degradation of phenolic compounds and bacterial disinfection under visible light. As compared to conventional slurry photocatalytic system, no magnetic stirring was used during degradation experiments. The photodegradation rate was substantially influenced by adsorption of 2, 4-dinitrophenol (DNP) and phenol onto EV/FG24. The DNP and phenol were completely mineralized in 10 h. The selected bacteria were inactivated by EV/FG24 in 3 h. The effect of various radical scavengers revealed the pivotal role of hydroxyl radicals during disinfection mechanism. EV/FG24 exhibited significant recycle efficiency during photocatalytic process. EV/FG24 was used as a stable photocatalyst to depollute contaminated water. (C) 2018 Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.