Copper Sulfide Nanoparticles Anchored in Cotton Linter Carbon Aerogel Promote the Adsorption/Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Pollutants

The development of cheap and efficient photocatalysts for the degradation of organic pollutants in textile printing and dyeing wastewater is of great importance for addressing environmental issues, although it remains challenging. In this study, nano-CuS particles were doped on cotton linter aerogels using a straightforward method for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) and organic pollutants in textile wastewater. Material morphology and structure were analyzed using XRD, SEM/EDS mapping, XPS, BET surface area measurements, and UV-Vis spectroscopy, while their performance was evaluated through various tests. The results demonstrated that a 10 mg catalyst material achieved complete degradation of a 20 mL methylene blue solution (15 mg/L) within 120 min. Moreover, the degradation rates of two types of textile wastewater, reactive red wastewater and reactive yellow wastewater, were both above 90% within 120 min and reached complete degradation within 150 min using the 10 mg catalyst material. The experimental results demonstrate that copper sulfide nanoparticles anchored in cotton linter carbon aerogel can increase the contact area of the photocatalytic reaction system, improve the photoelectron transfer, and thus enhance the photocatalytic reaction efficiency, providing a useful foundation for developing economical photocatalysts and effective dye degradation technologies.