Synthesis of ZnO/g-C3N4 Composites Obtained by Pyrolysis of a Ternary Deep Eutectic Solvent and Their Application as Catalysts in Different AOPs

This study investigates the synthesis and evaluation of ZnO/g-C3N4 composites as efficient green catalysts for advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) targeting the treatment of contaminated water. The composites were synthesized using a ternary deep eutectic solvent and physically-chemically characterized in detail, confirming their structural integrity and successful synthesis. Photocatalytic, photo-Fenton- and electro-Fenton-like experiments were conducted using Rhodamine B as a model contaminant to evaluate the catalytic performance, reuse and stability of the synthesized material. The synthesized ZnO/g-C3N4 composites demonstrated excellent photocatalytic activity under LED light (395 nm), achieving a pollutant removal of around 59% in 90 min. The combined effect of the designed catalyst and Fenton-like process, a photo-Fenton-like process, significantly improved this performance, achieving removal of close to 95% in 60 min due to the synergistic effects of the irradiation and H2O2 activation. Finally, the catalytic action of synthesized ZnO/g-C3N4 composites in the electro-Fenton-like process exhibited superior efficiency, achieving 90% removal within 45 min and kinetic constants four times higher than those of anodic oxidation alone. In addition, reuse studies confirmed the stability and catalytic activity of the composites for several cycles with high removal efficiencies, demonstrating their viability for long-term and scalable water treatment applications. These findings highlight the potential of ZnO/g-C3N4 composites synthesized through DES as a sustainable and cost-effective alternative for water remediation technologies.