The photocatalytic performance of silica fume based Co3O4/MCM-41 green nanocomposite for instantaneous degradation of Omethoate pesticide under visible light

Advanced nanocomposite from silica-fume based MCM-41 and cobalt oxide (Co3O4/SF-MCM-41) which precipitated by green techniques in the presences of Pomegranate leaves extract as reducing reagent. The formation of the Co3O4/SF-MCM-41composite was confirmed by different studied analytic techniques and applied as novel photocatalyst in the visible light oxidation of Omethoate pesticide. The composite is of stunning surface area (742 m2/g) and low band gap energy value (1.53 eV) which giving it promising photocatalytic performances. It showed highly effective photocatalytic activity which reflected in a complete degradation of 50 mg/L, 100 mg/L, 150 mg/L, 200 mg/L and 250 mg/L of Omethoate after 30 min, 50 min, 80 min, 100 min, and 120 min, respectively using 0.25 g of Co3O4/SF-MCM-41. This associated with complete degradation of the detected TOC content within the same time intervals. The detected intermediate organic materials of (CH3O)3P(O), (CH3O)2P(O)SCH3, CH3NHC(O)CH2SH, CH3NHC(O)CH2SCH3, and NH2C(O)CH2SCH3 were identified as oxidizing products during the degradation steps and all of them were converted into NO3−, SO42-, PO43-, and CO2 as final products. The composite is of reusability value and the hydroxyl radicals were identified as the controlling radicals during the oxidation process.