H2O2 assisted photocatalysis over Fe‐MOF modified BiOBr for degradation of RhB

Abstract BACKGROUND Advanced oxidation technologies such as photocatalysis assisted by hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) are significantly more effective. Their synergy may greatly improve the degradation efficiency of pollutants with proper catalysts. In this study, a series of iron Metal organic framework/bismuth oxybromide (Fe‐MOF/BiOBr) catalysts were prepared, and their properties examined using Rhodamine B (RhB) as the target pollutant. Through comparison tests of photocatalysis and activating H 2 O 2 under visible light‐initiated oxidation reaction, the catalyst, the degradation effect and reaction conditions were optimized. RESULTS All of the composites showed better photocatalysis performance than the pure BiOBr and Fe‐MOF, and the catalytic efficiency of a composite sample MB1 with 5 mg Fe‐MOF in BiOBr was the highest. When MB1 was applied to aheterogenous Fenton‐like reaction involving H 2 O 2 and photocatalysis under visible light ([H 2 O 2 ] = 10 mmol L –1 ), the capacity for degradation of RhB increased to 11.1 mg/(mg·min) whereas it was only 4 mg/(mg·min) by photocatalysis alone. In addition, the optimal reaction conditions were pH 5 and 50 W light. The mechanism study showed that 1 O 2 and ·O 2 − were the main active species for pollutant degradation. CONCLUSION This study provides a new and highly efficient catalyst to heterogeneously activate H 2 O 2 under visible light to degrade a pollutant. The developed Fe‐MOF/BiOBr combination has great application potential. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).