Novel VOPO4/g-C3N4-PMS system for organic pollutant degradation: Assessment of toxicity by Danio rerio

The hydrothermally synthesized Vanadyl phosphate (VP) was doped with graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) which has low band gap energy and high nitrogen content to form VP/g-C3N4 (VP/GCN) composite. These synthesized materials were aided by PMS activation, and then these materials were evaluated for the photo-catalytic degradation of organic Azure B (Az B) dye. The structure and surface morphology of the synthesized materials were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy techniques (TEM), UV-Vis-DRS spectroscopy and Fourier transform-infra red spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis. The photocatalytic degradation of the organic dye was carried out in a photocatalytic chamber under visible light. The PMS activation enhances the catalytic efficiency of the synthesized material. The degradation efficiency of the PMS activated VP/GCN composite was found to be nearly 93% for Az B dye effluent in a time duration of 120 min. The treated effluent water was investigated for the animal survival to understand its toxic nature. VP/GCN composite catalyst treated dye effluent exhibited better survival for zebra fish (Danio rerio) when compared with the untreated dye effluent which clearly proves the VP/GCN catalyst to be an excellent material for water purification.