Heterogeneous riboflavin-based photocatalyst for pollutant oxidation through electron transfer processes

Organic photocatalysts could employ visible light to produce photodegradation of pollutants; however, their low photostability prevents reuse even when they are supported on solid materials. Herein, obtain a Riboflavin (RF)-based photocatalyst robust and recyclable, RF has been covalently anchored silica particles, converting the known homogeneous into new heterogeneous one (SiO2-RF). To enhance SiO2-RF, generation triplet excited state subsequent singlet oxygen were prevented by ensuring complete shell moieties spheres. Moreover, adsorption organic pollutants such as phenol, ortho-phenylphenol, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol pentachlorophenol surface SiO2-RF is favored in aqueous media, facilitating electron transfer from short-lived first RF. Photophysical measurements provided evidence photocatalytic mechanism for SiO2-RF.