Structure induced activity enhancement of tungsten oxide for tetrabromobisphenol A photodegradation under visible light illumination

Abstract

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), a prevalent brominated flame retardant, poses significant environmental and health risks, necessitating its removal. In this study, WO₃ with different structures was synthesized for TBBPA photodegradation under visible light using H₂O₂ and O₂ as oxidants. The catalyst exhibited robust stability and reusability, rendering it suitable for practical applications. The crystalline structure and surface structure of WO₃ controlled its catalytic activity towards TBBPA photodegradation. Monoclinic WO₃ with the (022) plane was found to be the most active for ˙O₂⁻ active species generation from H₂O₂ and thus active for TBBPA degradation. Degradation product analysis showed that the catalyst was active not only for the removal of TBBPA, but also for the debromination of TBBPA. Nearly 100% debromination was achieved.