Multifunctional magnetic C3N4-rGO adsorbent with high hydrophobicity and simulated solar light-driven photocatalytic activity for oil spill removal.

• Synthesis of multifunctional magnetic C 3 N 4 -rGO adsorbent-photocatalyst. • Higher toluene adsorption on Fe-rGO compared to C 3 N 4 -Fe-rGO. • Higher photocatalytic degradation of toluene on C 3 N 4 -Fe-rGO rather than Fe-rGO. • Study on the physiochemical properties of synthsized adsorbent-photocatalysts. • Study on the toluene adsorption isotherm, thermodynamics and kinteics. In this study, magnetic reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-based adsorbents with and without C 3 N 4 (C 3 N 4 -Fe-rGO and Fe-rGO) were synthesized via a fast and simple thermal method with polyvinylidene fluoride as a polymer binder and were used for adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of toluene as an aromatic compound in oil. The physical and chemical properties of prepared adsorbents were analysed by XRD, FESEM, FTIR, TEM, BET-BJH, TGA, WCA, VSM, DRS, PL, EDX, and RAMAN. The results showed higher intake of toluene on Fe-rGO (adsorption capacity 1.387 g/g) compared to C 3 N 4 -Fe-rGO (adsorption capacity 1.313 g/g), despite more hydrophobicity and higher selectivity of C 3 N 4 -Fe-rGO. Study on adsorption isotherms and adsorption kinetics of both samples indicated the highest agreement with Toth adsorption isotherm and quasi-first-order kinetic model. The results of TGA analysis showed better temperature resistance of the C 3 N 4 containing adsorbent than Fe-rGO. BET analysis also illustrated the existence of slit-shaped meso pores for both adsorbents originating from 2D structure of rGO and C 3 N 4. Considering optical properties, PL analysis indicated negligible electron-hole recombination rate in both samples. However, DRS analysis confirmed higher absorption of light and red shift to visible light region for C 3 N 4 -Fe-rGO. Regarding the sole photocatalysis rout, it was found that C 3 N 4 -Fe-rGO could degrade higher amounts of toluene (8%) compared to 0.7% of Fe-rGO. Scavenger tests finally were studied and superoxide and hydroxyl radicals were confirmed as the main reactive species in toluene photocatalytic degradation in this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]