PVA hydrogel serve as a high-efficiency carrier to enhance the photocatalytic degradation performance of BiOBr

BiOBr is a bismuth-containing photocatalytic material that exhibits visible light activity, making it highly promising for applications in photocatalytic degradation of pollutants and ecological protection. However, its application is hinder by the powder form and small particle size. Loading a powder photocatalyst on a suitable carrier is a common way to solve this challenge. This study proposes that PVA hydrogel can be used as a highly efficient carrier to enhance the photocatalytic degradation performance of BiOBr. By adding a foaming agent, the pore structure of hydrogel was improved and the degradation performance to pollutants in wastewater was increased. The impact of various factors, including BiOBr photocatalyst loading, solution pH, recycling stability, and reactive species, on the photocatalytic degradation process were investigated. The performance of the PVA/BiOBr composite hydrogel to degrade methylene blue (MB) under simulated solar irradiation was studied. After a 120 min photocatalytic reaction, PVA/BiOBr-1.0 % composite hydrogel removed 99 % of 10 mg·L−1 MB, which was superior to pure BiOBr photocatalyst. This investigation is of significance as it provides insights into the integration of BiOBr catalysts key role of the PVA hydrogel carriers in enhancing the catalytic performance of BiOBr photocatalyst in wastewater treatment. [Display omitted] •PVA hydrogel as a highly efficient carrier for enhancing the photocatalytic degradation performance of BiOBr.•PVA enables efficient loading and dispersion of BiOBr nanoparticles by surface rich hydrogen bonds.•Foam crosslinking enhanced the diffusion rate of contaminants, resulting in a notable reduction in degradation time.•The degradation rate of the composite hydrogel can reach 99.2% for the removal of MB dye.