hydrocarbons. Upon addition of 3 wt% graphene oxide/silver phosphate, complete
phenanthrene degradation was achieved within 7 minutes. Possibly, the cross-linked
bridge formed between the silver phosphate semiconductors and graphene oxide
sheets could initiate the separation and transfer of photogenerated electron-hole pair.
Moreover graphene oxide acted as an electron reservoir that can restrain the charge
UV, TiO 2
O
HO
OH
O
OH, O 2
O
O
O
O
O
UV, TiO 2
OH
OH, O 2
O
O
O
OH
HO
O
O
+
Polymerization
Acyclic hydrocarbons
UV, TiO 2
CO 2 + H 2 O
(a)
(b)
UV, TiO 2
Epoxidation
O
OH, O 2
-
COOH
Decarboxylation
OH
HO
O
O
+
O O
O
O
UV, TiO 2
CO 2 + H 2 O
UV, TiO 2
O
CHO
OH
OH
O
O
OH
OH
OH, O 2
Fluoranthene
Benzo[a]pyrene
Fig. 5.3 Degradation pathway of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; fluoranthene and benzo[a]
pyrene with the titanium dioxide-modified graphene oxide nanomaterial under ultraviolet light,
formation of different reaction products, and their ultimate mineralization ()
5 Degradation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons by Functionalized Nanomaterials
147