Rapid photocatalytic mineralization of glyphosate by Pd@BiVO4/BiOBr nanosheets: Mechanistic studies and degradation pathways

Glyphosate, the most widely used herbicide, has been linked to adverse effects on human health and non-target species. We report a highly efficient light-activated catalytic mineralization of glyphosate by Pd@BiVO4/BiOBr dual heterojunction photocatalyst. Rapid degradation of glyphosate by Pd@BiVO4/BiOBr was achieved within 5 min of the reaction. The palladium decoration of BiVO4/BiOBr nanocomposite enhanced the degradation four times. The glyphosate photocatalytic mineralization pathway was investigated via the determination of the degradation products. Pd@BiVO4/BiOBr photocatalyst displayed high stability after six glyphosate degradation cycles. Such results pave the way for sustainable catalytic technologies to minimize the global impact of pesticides.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates a highly efficient light-activated catalytic degradation of glyphosate using Pd@BiVO4/BiOBr dual heterojunction photocatalyst, which can rapidly degrade glyphosate within 5 minutes. The addition of palladium to the BiVO4/BiOBr nanocomposite enhances the degradation by four times. The photocatalytic mineralization pathway of glyphosate was investigated by determining the degradation products. The Pd@BiVO4/BiOBr photocatalyst shows high stability even after six glyphosate degradation cycles. These results provide a promising approach for sustainable catalytic technologies to minimize the global impact of pesticides.