Bacterial contamination in wastewater systems presents a significant threat to public health. This research focuses on the antibacterial activity of metal-free graphitic carbon nitride and its composites. A high surface-to-volume ratio and unique features such as photoactivity are their advantages. Applying these metal-free materials can reduce the cost of the bacteria treating process in water treatment. In this study, the antibacterial activity of graphitic carbon nitride/sulfur-doped carbon (GCN-CS) was examined against the Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria. The bacteriostasis rate (B %) of GCN-CS and GCN under 24h dark was 35% and 7%, respectively. The B % of GCN-CS and GCN under 1h visible light was 90% and 35%, respectively. Under 3h of visible light, GCN-CS showed the B% of 100%. The high antibacterial activity of GCN-CS under dark shows that the high surface area (326 m2/g), low surface pH (4.06), and new sulfur species such as thiophenic sulfur play an important role in treating E.coli. The higher antibacterial activity of GCN-CS under visible light can be attributed to its smaller bandgap (2.66 eV) than of GCN (2.91 eV).

Antibacterial activity of g-C3N4/sulfur-doped carbon composite under dark and visible light

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ACS Fall 2022

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