Enhanced photocatalytic treatment using plasmonic AgAgPO/AgAgCl nanophotocatalyst for simultaneous degradation of multiple parabens and UV-filters in various aquatic environments under visible light irradiation.

In this study, simultaneous photocatalytic degradation of different parabens (methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, and butyl paraben) and UV filters (benzophenone-3, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor, 2-ethylhexyl 4-(dimethylamino) benzoate, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate and octocrylene) in water matrices was performed under visible light irradiation using novel double plasmonic AgAgPO/AgAgCl nanophotocatalyst, synthesized by an easy and fast photochemical conversion and photo-reduction. It was found that the nanophotocatalyst with appropriate mole ratio of AgAgPO/AgAgCl (1:3) showed superior photocatalytic activity than individual plasmonic nanoparticles. This is because there are two simultaneous surface plasmon resonances (SPR) generated by the metallic Ag nanoparticles, in addition to the hetero-junction structure formed at the interface between AgAgPO and AgAgCl.

Investigation of simultaneous multiple UV filters degradation efficiency of plasmonic AgAgCl photocatalyst in the aquatic environment under sunlight irradiation.

UV filters as an important class of emerging organic pollutants are continuously released into and transported between the aquatic environments. So, the removal of these compounds from aquatic environments is of great importance. This study was conducted to evaluate the simultaneous photodegradation of three widely used UV filter compounds (4-methylbenzylidene camphor, 2-ethylhexyl 4-(dimethylamino) benzoate, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate), in an aqueous environment under sunlight and Ag@AgCl photocatalyst integrated with plasmonic effect.