Ternary ZIF-67/MXene/CNF aerogels for enhanced photocatalytic TBBPA degradation via peroxymonosulfate activation

The novel photocatalytic advanced oxidation catalyst, ZIF-67@MXene-TA-CNF (ZIF-67@MTC) aerogels, was prepared via introducing tannic acid-coated cellulose nanofibril (TA-CNF), two-dimensional layered MXene, and ZIF-67 into a composite aerogel network. Specially, TA assisted the crosslinking of CNF through hydrogen bonds to construct the flexible aerogel skeleton, accompanied by assembly of MXene and ZIF-67. MXene not only provided sufficient attachment sites for the anchoring of ZIF-67, but also can be used as a repository for electron transfer to facilitate the separation of photogenerated electrons and holes. In the peroxymonosulfate (PMS)/aerogels/visible light system, the SO4-, OH and 1O2 were generated, and 1O2 was the main reactive species. As a result, 99.9 % of Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) can be degraded and the total organic carbon (TOC) removal efficiency reached 81.8 % within 40 min in this system. The results might provide a new concept for the design of biomass aerogels for applications in organic pollutant removal.