Synthesis of composites for catalytic reactions

Abstract

Water pollution poses a significant threat to ecosystems and human health, driven by industrial waste and agricultural runoff containing harmful dyes and phenolic compounds. This research aims to synthesize and evaluate novel composites of graphitic carbon nitride (gC3N4) modified with silver nanoparticles for their catalytic properties in degrading these pollutants. The methodology involved synthesizing g-C3N4 via thermal polymerization of melamine, followed by modification with silver nanoparticles through a reduction process. The composites were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Catalytic performance was assessed through the degradation of methylene blue and phenol under visible light irradiation. The results indicated that silver-modified g-C3N4 exhibited superior catalytic activity compared to unmodified g-C3N4, achieving over 90% degradation efficiency for both pollutants. These findings underscore the potential of these composites for environmental remediation applications.