Efficient Biodegradation of Azo Dyes Catalyzed by the Anthraquinone-2-sulfonate and Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite

An anthraquinone-2-sulfonate and reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite (AQS@rGO) was prepared and the improvement on the biotic reduction of a pollutant, i.e., azo dye, was demonstrated. Electron paramagnetic resonance signal of the semi-quinone radical in the well-dispersed solid AQS@rGO solution was detected. Although the as-prepared AQS@rGO has a negligible adsorption capacity toward methyl orange (MO) dye, the decolorization efficiencies in both flask experiments and sequencing operation reactors in the presence of AQS@rGO were increased by more than 1.5 times as compared to that with graphene oxide, and an efficient and continuable catalytic effect on the decolorization of azo dyes in seven operation periods was maintained. The catalytic effect on reduction was caused by the formation of a space-charge layer, which facilitates the efficient e– transfer from the conductive rGO sheets to the C═O of the AQS molecule. The results suggested that the AQS@rGO may act as an efficient insoluble redox mediator, which is important for the pollution control by accelerating the extracellular electron transfer.