Synergistic Removal of Bromate and Ibuprofen by Graphene Oxide and TiO2 Heterostructure Doped with F: Performance and Mechanism

The batch experiments of photocatalytic oxidation-reduction of bromate and ibuprofen (IBP) by graphene oxide (GO) and TiO2 heterostructure doped with F (FGT) particles were conducted. The performance and mechanism of synergistic removal of bromate and IBP by FGT were discussed. The results show that a demonstrable synergistic effect and excellent removal rate of bromate and IBP by FGT were exhibited. When pH is 5.2 and the dosage of FGT is 0.1 g/L, the reaction rate constants of bromate and IBP increased from 0.0584 min-1 and 0.4188 min-1 to 0.1353 min-1 and 0.4504 min-1, respectively, compared with the degradation of bromate or IBP alone. The reaction of photocatalytic synergistic degradation is appropriately fitted through Langmuir-Hinshelwood first-order kinetics. The mechanism of synergistic removal of bromate and IBP by FGT was discussed. And electrons (e-), hydroxyl radical (⋅OH), and superoxide radical (⋅O2-) are the main active species. The electrons play a main role in the bromate reduction, and bromine is the only reduction product, while the oxidation of IBP is the result of ⋅OH and ⋅O2-, and ⋅OH plays a key role. The recombination of electrons and holes is inhibited by simultaneous consumption of bromate and IBP, which makes full use of the redox properties of FGT and plays a synergistic role in the removal of pollutants. The results indicate that photocatalytic oxidation-reduction by FGT is a promising, efficient, and environmental-friendly method for synchronous removal of combined pollution in water.