NaBH4-treated cobalt-doped g-C3N4 for enhanced activation of peroxymonosulfate

Cobalt-doped g-C3N4 exhibited good peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation for removing the organic compounds. However, the contact of PMS with cobalt-doped g-C3N4 was inhibited at neutral pH due to electrostatic repulsion. In this work, cobalt-doped g-C3N4 was treated with NaBH4 solution. The physicochemical properties of the treated cobalt-doped g-C3N4 were characterized by several techniques. Obtained results showed the changes in specific surface area and zeta potential. In the catalytic experiment, the treated cobalt-doped g-C3N4 showed an excellent activation of PMS to degrade Acid Orange 7. The significantly enhanced PMS activation was due to the effective contact between PMS and the treated Co-doped g-C3N4 via electrostatic attraction.