A photocatalyst Cu-BiVO4 was synthesized by the hydrothermal method and was characterized by XRD, UV-vis DRS, and N2 adsorption-desorption measurement. The catalytic activity of the Cu-BiVO4 samples was studied on desulfurization of thiophene dissolved in n-octane, which was used as a model light oil, via photocatalytic oxidation reaction under illumination by visible light. The catalyst characterization results indicated that the loading of Cu on the catalyst did not change the crystal phase of BiVO4, and the crystallinity of the Cu-BiVO4 sample was found to be better at pH=7. The Cu-BiVO4 samples presented a significant bathochromic shift of the absorption band in the visible region, and the absorption intensity increased for the composite catalyst. The desulfurization experiments showed that the Cu-BiVO4 sample prepared at a pH value of 7 had a better catalytic activity. Under proper operating conditions, the desulfurization rate of the model compound achieved by Cu-BiVO4 sample prepared at pH=7 could reach as high as 90%.
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