Effective photocatalytic activity of graphene/polyindole nanocomposites to degrade the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) for water treatment

Abstract

The herbicide 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) affects the environment through its moderate toxicity in water bodies and caused water pollution. The aim of this study is to investigate the degraded amount of traditionally used low-cost herbicide e.g.2,4-D from the water by using kinetic parameters with the help of a cost- effective new photo-catalyst Graphene-Polyindole nanocomposites (Gr-PIn NC). This nanocomposite (NC) synthesized by using the sol-gel technique and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning electron microscope (SEM) spectroscopy, which reveals the amorphous character and dispersed form of Polyindole on Graphene layers. Furthermore, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR)-spectra confirm the vibrations phenomenon in polyindole due to the presence of pi-pi (π-π) interactions of graphene carbon double bonds (C=C) between Graphene layers. The Gr-PIn NC rate constant results exhibited almost 99% promising photodegradation efficiency for 2,4-D herbicide in presence of UV-vis. light irradiation via production of highly reactive oxygen species and, where synthesized nanocomposite shows its efficiency as twice than the pure polyindole polymer.