Novel floating photocatalysts based on polyurethane composite foams modified with silver/titanium dioxide/graphene ternary nanoparticles for the visible-light-mediated remediation of diesel-polluted surface water

ABSTRACT Photocatalyst loading on a floating substitute is accepted as a promising method for the remediation of diesel‐polluted surface water. Therefore, novel photocatalysts based on polyurethane foams modified with silver/titanium dioxide/graphene ternary nanoparticles (PU–Ag/P25/G) were synthesized and investigated. Scanning electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectrometry, X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and UV–visible spectroscopy showed the coexistence of Ag, Degussa P25 (P25), and graphene and the nanoscale dispersion of nanoparticles in the matrix and on the surface of the polyurethane (PU) foam. The diesel adsorption capacity of the photocatalyst reached 96 g/g. The maximum diesel degradation was found to be 76% in a period of 16 h. Compared with polyurethane‐foam‐supported P25/graphene (PU–P25/G) and polyurethane‐foam‐supported P25 (PU–P25), all of the adsorption isotherm and degradation kinetics followed the order PU–Ag/P25/G > PU–P25/G > PU–P25 > PU; this was due to the loading of different nanoparticles. Moreover, the degradation efficiency was reduced only 5% after five consecutive reactions; this showed good stability and reusability of the photocatalyst for surface water restoration. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43400.