Ambient temperature-prepared BiOBr-supported zero-pretreatment coal gasification fine slag for organic pollutant removal

Abstract

Resourceful utilization of coal gasification fine slag (CGFS), a typical coal-based solid waste, has always been a trial and challenge in solid waste treatment. In developing its utilization value, fewer steps and lower energy consumption during treatment are more favorable. Herein, CGFS was modified by combining BiOBr to develop its possible application in the photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants. The BiOBr/CGFS photocatalysts were synthesized at ambient temperature by a simple hydrolysis method with zero pre-treatment of CGFS. The synthesized composites show improved effective photocatalytic performance in the degradation of organic pollutant and the BOB/CGFS₂₀ showed the best activity, which can remove 89.3% of phenol within 90 minutes, 84.53% of sulfamethoxazole within 75 minutes and 84.96% of bisphenol A within 120 minutes. Moreover, the components in CGFS that may play a positive role were investigated and the results showed that CGFS acted as a carrier, and most likely, the carbon materials and metal oxides such as Fe₂O₃ and/or TiO₂ in it led to the improvement of the quantum efficiency of BiOBr and further promoted the photocatalytic performance. This study aims to provide some references and inspiration for the utilization of CGFS and environmental protection.