Synthesis of carnation flower-like Bi2O2CO3 photocatalyst and its promising application for photoreduction of Cr(VI)

In this study, we have synthesized high-quality carnation flower-like Bi2O2CO3 hierarchical architectures via a hydrothermal route. The as-synthesized Bi2O2CO3 photocatalyst was systematically characterized and analyzed by various techniques. Its photocatalytic activity was investigated by simulated-sunlight driving photoreduction of Cr(VI), revealing that it exhibits excellent photocatalytic removal of Cr(VI). The effects of various factors (H2SO4, NaOH, Cr(VI) concentration, catalyst dosage) on the photoreduction efficiency and involved mechanism were systematically investigated and discussed. In addition, we have also systematically examined the effects of various parameters (H2SO4 concentration, 1,5-diphenylcarbazide (DPC) concentration, Cr(VI) concentration, reaction time t and reaction temperature T) on the absorbance of the Cr(VI) solution, with the aim of correctly determining the Cr(VI) concentration according to UV–vis absorption measurements using DPC as the chromogenic agent.