Visible light photocatalytic reduction of toxic chemical organophosphate monocrotophos using reduced graphene oxide derived from bamboo leaves

Abstract

In this study, graphene oxide (GO) was synthesized from waste bamboo leaves using a pyrolysis and ultra-sonication technique. UV–visible spectroscopy revealed a prominent absorption peak at 230 nm, while Raman spectroscopy confirmed the presence of characteristic D-band (1340 cm⁻¹) and G-band (1596 cm⁻¹). XRD analysis showed a peak at 11.5°, corresponding to a lattice spacing of 3 nm, and SEM/TEM imaging demonstrated the formation of multi-layered graphene sheets. The synthesized GO was evaluated for the photocatalytic degradation of the organophosphate pesticide monocrotophos under visible light. At a concentration of 25 mg/L, graphene exhibited a removal efficiency of 98 % with a degradation rate of 0.036 ppm/min, following a Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-first-order kinetic model. The significance of this study lies in the potential environmental application, offering an economical and sustainable solution for the decontamination of pesticide-contaminated water sources. The method could contribute significantly for reducing environmental pollution and addressing global water safety challenges.