Abstract:
In order to utilize the magnetic responsiveness of Fe
3O
4 and the excellent photocatalytic activity of graphite carbon nitride (g-C
3N
4), high temperature thermal polymerization method was used to prepare g-C
3N
4 with urea as a precursor. The magnetic separation Fe
3O
4/g-C
3N
4 composite photocatalyst was synthesized by hydrothermal method. The obtained samples were characterized by TEM, XRD, TGA, BET and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) to investigate the morphology, crystalline phase, specific surface area, composition and saturation magnetization of Fe
3O
4/g-C
3N
4 composites. The adsorption and photocatalytic properties of Fe
3O
4/g-C
3N
4 composites were evaluated by the adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of dye methylene blue (MB) under simulated sunlight. The results show that the specific surface area of magnetic separation Fe
3O
4/g-C
3N
4 composites is large compared with g-C
3N
4, up to 71.89 m
2/g. Fe
3O
4/g-C
3N
4 composites possess good magnetic, and the intensity of saturation magnetic field reaches to 18.79 emu/g, which is enough for magnetic separation and recovery. The removal rate of MB reaches to 56.54% under irradiation for 240 min. Fe
3O
4/g-C
3N
4 composites not only exhibit good adsorption and photocatalytic activity and magnetic, but also can be recovered easily by external magnetic field.