Ambient-Visible-Light-Mediated Enhanced Degradation of UV Stabilizer Bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)methanone by Nanosheet-Assembled Cobalt Titanium Oxide: A Comparative and DFT-Assisted Investigation

Bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)methanone (BHPM), a common ultraviolet stabilizer and filter (USF), is extensively added in sunscreens; however, BHPM proven as an endocrine disruptor, posing serious threat to aquatic ecology, should be then removed. As sulfate radical (SO4•−) could useful for eliminating emerging contaminants, oxone appears favorable source reagent of SO4•− degrading BHPM. Even though cobalt catalyst activating generate SO4•−, it would even more promising utilize ambient-visible-light irradiation enhance activation using cobaltic catalysts. Therefore, contrast the conventional oxide, titanium oxide (CTO) was investigated chemical photocatalytic eliminate from water. Especially, special morphology nanosheet-assembled configuration CTO designed maximize active surfaces sites CTO. Thus, outperforms Co3O4 TiO2 via activation. Furthermore, substituent Ti enabled absorption visible light possessed much smaller Eg. These properties intensified CTO’s activity significantly Ea degradation USFs than other catalytic systems. Mechanistic insight by + explicated identifying contribution reactive oxygen species degradation. The pathway also unveiled details DFT calculation. results validated that superior alternative