Degradation of methyl orange by Zn(0) assisted with silica gel

► The first study to apply silica gel which is environmentally benign and low-cost to methyl orange (MO) degradation by Zn(0). ► The degradation of MO can be markedly enhanced when Zn(0) and silica gel coexist, even under neutral and alkaline conditions. ► The potential mechanism of this novel method was investigated deeply.