Photocatalysts Based on Graphitic Carbon Nitride for 5-Fluorouracil Degradation: Effect of the ZnO Addition

Graphitic-carbon nitride–zinc oxide (g-C3N4/ZnO) composite was synthetized by one-pot method. Intimate mixtures of melamine and zinc nitrate prepared by milling were thermally treated in air. The obtained materials were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), physisorption of N2 at − 196 ºC, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and point zero of charge (pHPZC). Photocatalytic activity in aqueous solution under UV-LED irradiation (λ = 385 nm) was evaluated in the degradation of a model cytostatic drug, namely 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The formation of g-C3N4 particles on ZnO structures improved the porosity and the basic surface character of the composite, favoring the photoactivity for the 5-FU removal. g-C3N4/ZnO showed higher efficiency than the pure phases used as reference, including also a benchmark TiO2 photocatalyst.