Microwave-assisted valorization of pig bristles: towards visible light photocatalytic chalcocite composites

Abstract

Waste valorization for the production of valuable materials is of great importance for sustainable development. Herein, a new green methodology for the synthesis of photocatalytically active copper sulfide (Cu₂S) carbon composites using pig bristles is reported. The catalyst was prepared via microwave-assisted methodology using ethylene glycol as the solvent, pig bristles as the sulfur and carbon source, and copper chloride as the metal precursor. Cu₂S carbon composites (denoted as pb-Cu₂S, where “pb” stands for “pig bristle”) were characterized by XRD, N₂ physisorption, EDX and UV-Vis spectroscopy. In order to validate the practical utilization of pig bristle-derived chemicals, the photocatalytic degradation of methyl red using pb-Cu₂S was investigated under white, blue, green and red visible light irradiation.