Sustainable stnthesis and properties of CuS and application of its composites for degradation of organic compounds

Copper sulfide (CuS) is a p-type semiconductor, characteristic of high theoretical specific charge capacity, high concentration of charge carriers and excellent ability to absorb light. These properties lead to CuS application in the fields of photocatalysis, energy storage, or green hydrogen production. The ability of CuS to generate free charge carriers by absorbing the irradiation of visible light is harvested by applying CuS for the advanced oxidation process and the degradation of dyes or antibiotics. In particular, the presently mentioned organic molecules are widely known wastewater pollutants whose presence in the water cycle enhances the unexpected acceleration of antimicrobial resistance. However, a sustainable and cost-effective approach to synthesize copper sulfide is not fully developed. The formation of CuS in aqueous solution under hydrothermal conditions by using the waste of sulfuric acid production as secondary raw material of sulfur was investigated in this thesis. The morphology, thermal stability and photocatalytic properties of synthesized samples were also studied in this work. To apply synthesized material on a large scale for the degradation of organic pollutants, the bio composites from poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) and CuS were produced. The samples in porous and film structures were used to degrade tetracycline and methylene blue. The ability of composite to degrade organic molecules, be reused and degrade several organic molecules simultaneously was examined in this work.