During heterogeneous photocatalysis, high dispersion of photocatalyst is vital for efficiency of slurry type photoreactors. In this work, we have prepared fluorine doped graphene (FG24) as a highly dispersible adsorbent by sonochemical exfoliation method. Moreover, SmVO4 (SV) nanoparticles were immobilized onto the surface of FG24 to prepare SV/FG24 photocatalyst, using post synthesis method. The zeta potential and Tyndall effect experiments confirmed the formation of highly dispersed SV/FG24 photocatalyst. The thickness of both FG24 and SV/FG24 was less than 2.0 nm. The band gap of SV/FG24 was 2.28 eV. The high surface area of SV/FG24 was suitable for adsorptive removal of phenol and 2, 4-dinitrophenol (DNP). The simultaneous process of adsorption and photocatalysis was the most effective for the degradation of selected phenolic compounds. Both phenol and DNP were mineralized in 10 h under visible light. The intermediates formation during the degradation process was proved by high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis. The photocatalytic activity of SV/FG24 was also tested for photocatalytic bacterial disinfection of Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas fluorescence, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus enterica bacteria. The selected bacteria were deactivated using SV/FG24 in 3 h under visible light. Both OH˙ and O2˙¯ radicals played an important role during both degradation and disinfection process. Due to significant recyclability, SV/FG24 could be used as cost-effective photocatalyst for wastewater treatment. Unlike conventional slurry photo-reactors, no magnetic stirring was used during photocatalytic degradation reactions. We have successfully fabricated high-dispersed photocatalyst which remained dispersed for 10 h and effectively used for photocatalytic water purification process.
