Preparation of visible light-responsive photocatalytic paper containing BiVO4@diatomite/MCC/PVBCFs for degradation of organic pollutants.

Combining adsorption and photocatalysis is an effective strategy for degrading organic pollutants. Here, BiVO4@diatomite composite photocatalyst (BiVO4@diatomite CP) was prepared by hydrothermal synthesis from Bi(NO3)3·5H2O glycerin solution, NH4VO3 solution and diatomite. BiVO4@diatomite/microcrystalline cellulose/PVB composite fibers (BiVO4@diatomite/MCC/PVBCFs) were prepared from BiVO4@diatomite CPs, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and PVB ethanol solution using the electrospinning method. BiVO4@diatomite/MCC/PVBCFs were then mixed with pulp fibers to prepare the visible light-responsive photocatalytic paper. BiVO4@diatomite CP with a BiVO4/diatomite ratio of 6:4 had good interface states and displayed good photocatalytic activity with 64.32% degradation of methylene blue (MB) after 4 h. A PVB ethanol solution (6%) was formulated with BiVO4@diatomite CP and MCC to provide an ethanol spinning solution (12% solid) to prepare BiVO4@diatomite/MCC/PVBCFs (3:3:4). The resulting fibers had smooth surfaces, compact structures and exhibited good photocatalytic activity (66.80% and 56.80% degradation of MB and formaldehyde (HCHO), respectively, after 4 h). Photocatalytic paper containing 18% BiVO4@diatomite/MCC/PVBCFs had good photocatalytic activity with 50.20% degradation of HCHO after 4 h. This paper also had good physical properties and has the potential to be used for the photocatalytic degradation of indoor air pollutants, such as HCHO.