Alessio Zuliani develope a new green methodology for the synthesis of photocatalytically active copper sulfide (Cu2S) carbon composites. He reported this methodology in the research paper titled “Microwave-assisted valorization of pig bristles: towards visible light photocatalytic Chalcocite composites”
Waste valorization for the production of valuable materials is of great importance for a 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 solvent, pig bristles as sulfur and carbon source, and copper chloride as metal precursor. Cu2S carbon composites (denoted as pb-Cu2S, where “pb” states for “pig bristle”) were characterized by XRD, N2 physisorption, EDX and UV-Vis spectroscopy. In order to validate the practical utilization of pig bristles- derived chemicals , the photocatalytic degradation of methyl red using pb-Cu2S was investigated under white, blue, green and red visible light irradiation.
