Interface engineering of ultrathin multi-functional 2D draped chitosan for efficient charge separation on degradation of paraquat ‒ a mechanistic study

Abstract In the present study, graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) draped chitosan (CS) was synthesized via simple co-precipitation method. Paraquat (PQT), a non-selective contact herbicide which is used to control weeds and algae. It causes critic problems to living organisms due to occur of pesticides on drinking water. Under visible light irradiation, CS/rGO was able to degrade 85.49% of PQT solution within 60 min, and this ability remained 82% was accomplished after 5 repetitive use at the same conditions. Whereas, CS/GO has ameliorated results as compared to CS/rGO. The kinetics and rate of reaction were follows the pseudo-first order kinetics towards catalytic degradation of PQT. In this study, CS/GO and CS/rGO photocatalyst were prepared and the materials have been characterized using FTIR, XRD, SEM‒EDX, TEM, TGA-DSC, BET, DLS, and zeta potential etc., and identification of by-products using LC-MS technique. The above results suggests that the prepared materials employed as affable substitute for the remediation of organophosphate pesticides in aqueous solution.