Recent advances in application of graphitic carbon nitride based catalysts for degrading organic contaminants in water through advanced oxidation processes beyond photocatalysis: A critical review.
Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have attracted much interest in the field of water treatment owing to their high removal efficiency for refractory organic contaminants. Graphitic carbon nitride (g C3N4) based catalysts with high performance and cost effectiveness are promising heterogeneous catalysts for AOPs. Most research on g C3N4 based catalysts focuses on photocatalytic oxidation, but increasingly researchers are paying attention to the application of g C3N4 based catalysts in other AOPs beyond photocatalysis. This review aims to concisely highlight recent state of the art progress of g C3N4 based catalysts in AOPs beyond photocatalysis. Emphasis is made on the application of g C3N4 based catalysts in three classical AOPs including Fenton based processes, catalytic ozonation and persulfates activation. The catalytic performance and involved mechanism of g C3N4 based catalysts in these AOPs are discussed in detail. Meanwhile, the effect of water chemistry including pH, water temperature, natural organic matter, inorganic anions and dissolved oxygen on the catalytic performance of g C3N4 based catalysts are summarized. Moreover, the reusability, stability and toxicity of g C3N4 based catalysts in water treatment are also mentioned. Lastly, perspectives on the major challenges and opportunities of g C3N4 based catalysts in these AOPs are proposed for better developments in the future research.
Water research