Straw-Derived Activated Carbon Decorated with AgPO for Organic Pollutant Removal by a Circular Degradation Mechanism: Adsorption and Photocatalysis.

The escalating problem of water pollution has become an urgent concern, as it significantly undermines people's quality of life and overall public health. The increasing severity of water pollution represents a global challenge, with profound implications for human society. In this study, hydrothermal carbonization coupled with alkaline activation was utilized to repurpose barley straw into activated carbon (AC) as an absorbent. Silver phosphate (AgPO) was synthesized as a potent photocatalyst. Subsequent ultrasound-assisted loading integrated the robust adsorptive capabilities of the AC with the advanced photocatalytic efficiency of silver phosphate, resulting in a superior composite material (AC/AgPO) and implementing a novel "absorption-photocatalysis" active circular degradation strategy to remove hazardous organics in water. Comprehensive characterization assays confirmed the successful synthesis and incorporation of AgPO onto the AC scaffold. The composite with a AgPO concentration of 3 wt % exhibited a high methylene blue (MB) removal efficiency of 99.4% within 100 min. The reaction rate of this composite surpassed that of standalone AC by a factor of 2.89. Furthermore, cyclic regeneration studies via adsorption-desorption methodologies revealed the composite's resilience and sustained performance. The MB removal efficiency was maintained at 85.5% over five consecutive cycles, demonstrating the composite's remarkable stability. The integration of adsorptive and photocatalytic functionalities within a single system mitigates potential secondary pollution arising during the AC's desorption phase and enhances the organic contaminant removal efficiency. Moreover, the utilization of this integrated material reduces the quantity of chemicals and energy required for conventional adsorption water treatment techniques, as the material harnesses sunlight or alternative light sources to catalyze contaminant decomposition. This reduces the dependence on chemical treatment agents, contributing to resource conservation and alleviating environmental burdens. This pioneering approach offers a novel paradigm for addressing pollutant challenges in aqueous environments.