The nonylphenol degradation under UV irradiation in the presence of Ag–ZnO nanorods: Effect of parameters and degradation pathway

•ZnO and Ag–ZnO nanorods were synthesized with the hydrothermal method.•The structural, morphological, textural and optical properties were studied.•Ag–ZnO showed high photocatalytic activity for the NP degradation and mineralization.•Operational parameters were studied on the NP degradation and mineralization.•The degradation mechanism was proposed by the analysis of the intermediates.

Ag–ZnO and pure ZnO nanorods have been synthesized by hydrothermal method. The structural, morphological, textural and optical properties of the samples were investigated. The result showed the existence of wurtzite ZnO structure and confirmed the presence of Ag in ZnO matrix. Ag-doping increases the specific surface area (SBET), shifts the absorption edge, decreases the ZnO band gap, reduces the electron–hole recombination and consequently improves the photodegradation efficiency of nonylphenol (NP) under UV irradiation.Under optimized conditions, Ag–ZnO achieving 100% degradation efficiency and 88% TOC conversion after 24 h of UV irradiation. According to the identified intermediates, using LC–MS analysis the possible NP photodegradation pathway was proposed.

Graphical abstractDegradation process of NP in the presence of Ag–ZnO and under UV irradiatio.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide