A Sustainable Wood‐Based Iron Photocatalyst for Multiple Uses with Sunlight: Water Treatment and Radical Photopolymerization

Abstract

AbstractA sustainable photocatalyst for use with multiple purpose comprising demethylated lignin (Fe3O4@D‐wood) was made by treatment of wood and iron oxide. Characterization followed by XRD, UV/Vis, photo‐current studies, and electrochemical measurements. This material became subject of photocatalytic explorations for water treatment and material synthesis by radical photopolymerization. Exposure ofFe3O4@D‐woodwith artificial sunlight showed an improved activity considering photochemical oxidation of organic pollutants in the presence of H2O2. The efficient generation of reactive radicals brought this system also to photopolymerization. Here, radicals based on reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated in the catalytic cycle can be seen as the dominating species to initiate radical polymerization. A mixture ofUDMAandTPGDAshowed good reactivity with cumene hydroperoxide (CHP). Photocatalyst used for water treatment facilitates reuse for photopolymerization.