Facile synthesis of charcoal-loaded NiO–CuO–ZnO ternary metal oxide photocatalyst and H2O2-assisted degradation of chlorpyrifos

The widespread manufacturing, use, and disposal of pesticides around the globe raise concerns about both human and animal health because of their bioaccumulating and biopersistent properties. A growing technology for the elimination of pesticides in aqueous media, metal oxide-based photocatalysis has attracted the attention of numerous researchers in recent years because of its viability, cost-effectiveness, and faster rate of degradation. In order to increase the efficiency of degradation, metal oxide-based photocatalytic degradation has been researched with various modifications, such as binary, ternary, or metal/non-metal-doped metal oxide photocatalysts. Chlorpyrifos degradation in aqueous medium by ternary metal oxide (NiO–CuO–ZnO) photocatalyst under UV and sunlight irradiations was investigated in this research. The influence of reaction parameters such as reaction time, pH, influence of oxidizing specie (H₂O₂), initial chlorpyrifos concentration, and UV/sunlight irradiation on chlorpyrifos degradation was studied. Improved degradation percentage was showed by charcoal-loaded NiO–CuO–ZnO photocatalyst after 45-min reaction time. UV–visible spectrophotometer was used to analyze the degradation of chlorpyrifos. To maintain the environment’s safety, more research is necessary to achieve rapid and maximal deterioration.