Boron nitride nanosheets decorated MIL-53(Fe) for efficient synergistic ibuprofen photocatalytic degradation by persulfate activation

In this study, based on one-step hydrothermal method, boron nitride nanosheets (BNNs) and MIL-53(Fe) composites (BNFe-X) were successfully prepared and the catalytic performance of BNFe-X on persulfate (PS) activation for ibuprofen (IBP) photodegradation was investigated. The introduction of BNNs changed the morphology of MIL-53(Fe) to be a unique prism-like structure and enhanced the degradation efficiency of IBP, which followed the pseudo-first-order rate kinetics. Among the prepared composites, BNFe-3 (3% BNNs) exhibited the highest IBP degradation activity and possessed strong stability after four cycles. Over 99% IBP removal was achieved at the irradiation time of 60 min. The promoted decomposition rate of IBP could be ascribed to be the activation of PS and the enhanced electrons transfer efficiency between BNNs and MIL-53(Fe). The scavenger studies and electron spin-resonance spectroscopy (ESR) demonstrated the generation of SO2-, OH and O2-, and all these radicals had the different contributions in IBP degradation. Based on the LC-MS-MS and TOC results, the possible decomposition pathways of IBP in BNFe-3/PS system were proposed. This work suggested that the BNNs/Fe-based MOFs composites and PS system had great potential in organic pollutants degradation in aqueous solution.