A Comparative Analysis of the Photocatalytic Degradation of Atrazine, Paraquat, and Glyphosate

Abstract

The extensive use of herbicides like paraquat, atrazine, and glyphosate has seriously contaminated the environment, especially aquatic habitats, endangering biodiversity and human health. A promising, environmentally acceptable method for eliminating these persistent herbicides from aqueous media is photocatalytic degradation, an advanced oxidation process (AOP). The degradation of glyphosate, atrazine, and paraquat using different photocatalysts under UV, visible, and solar light irradiation is the main emphasis of this comprehensive study, which examines recent developments in photocatalytic techniques. Important factors that affect degradation efficiency are examined, including the type of catalyst, pH, light source, and pollutant concentration. The study emphasises the effectiveness of new photocatalysts with degradation efficiencies between 80 and 99%, such as doped semiconductors, ZnO-based nanomaterials, and TiO₂-based composites. Future research directions to improve practical applications are highlighted, along with challenges like as scalability, cost-effectiveness, and incomplete mineralisation.