Photocatalytic activation of peroxydisulfate by a new porous g-C3N4/reduced graphene oxide/TiO2 nanobelts composite for efficient degradation of 17α-ethinylestradiol

A new ordered assembled porous C3N4/reduced graphene oxide/TiO2 nanobelts (CRT) was used to degrade 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) via photocatalysis, activation of peroxydisulfate (PS) in dark and under visible light irradiation. The singlet oxygen (1O2) and direct electron transfer process existed in CRT/PS/Dark process and superoxide radicals (•O2–) and holes (h+) generated in photocatalysis, and synergetic effect of nonradical (h+, 1O2 and direct electron transfer route) and radical processes (•O2–) was responsible for the rapid degradation of EE2 in CRT/PS/Vis process.