Using BiVO/CuO-Based Photoelectrocatalyzer for 4-Nitrophenol Degradation.

The present work reports the degradation of 4-nitrophenol using BiVO/CuO hybrid material synthesized by the precipitation of BiVO in the presence of CuO. Morphological and structural characterizations were performed using X-ray diffraction and scanning electronic microscopy coupled to energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Through the calculation of the Kubelka-Munk function applied to diffuse reflectance spectrophotometry data, the hybrid material presented absorption edge of 1.85 eV. The formation of heterojunction between BiVO and CuO renders the hybrid material suitable for the construction of a photoanode employed in hydroxyl radical generation. UV-vis spectrophotometry and high-performance liquid chromatography experiments were performed in order to monitor the degradation of 4-nitrophenol and the formation of secondary products. Additional information regarding the hybrid material was obtained through ion chromatography and total organic carbon analyses. The application of BiVO/CuO-based photocatalyzer led to a 50.2% decrease in total organic carbon after the degradation of 4-nitrophenol. Based on the results obtained in the study, BiVO/CuO has proved to be a promising material suitable for the removal of recalcitrant compounds in water treatment plants.