Photocatalytic Performance of SnO2 Nanoparticles for the Efficient Degradation of Chlorpyrifos Pesticide Under Visible Light Irradiation

Heterostructured semiconductor photocatalysts have demonstrated exceptional adsorption capabilities for organic pollutants, making them highly effective for environmental purification. In this study, SnO2 nanoparticles were synthesized using the hydrothermal method and examined as a potential photocatalyst. The synthesized nanoparticles were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-visible spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The degradation of chlorpyrifos was monitored to evaluate the photocatalytic efficiency of SnO2 revealing that 78.8% of chlorpyrifos was eliminated within 90 min using 50 mg of photocatalyst with an initial pollutant concentration of 20 ppm. Scavenger tests were conducted to identify the reactive species involved in the photocatalytic process. Furthermore, the recyclability of the photocatalyst was assessed with a fresh chlorpyrifos sample, showing a decrease in degradation efficiency from 78.8% to 67.7%, confirming the efficient reusability of SnO2 nanoparticles and their high photocatalytic performance under visible light irradiation.