Preparation of the novel zeolite AgX/CdO NPs composite catalyst and its application for the effective removal of fenitrothion (FN) from water

The novel zeolite AgX/CdO NPs composite catalyst has been fabricated under an ultrasound assisted dispersion route and identified by various analysis including FTIR, XRD, FESEM-EDAX, AFM, TEM, and EDAX-Dot mapping. Afterwards, for the first time, the zeolite AgX/CdO NPs composite has been exerted for the effective removal (adsorption and degradation) of fenitrothion (FN, O,O-dimethyl-O-(3-methyl-4-nitrophenyl phosphorothioate) as an organophosphorus pesticide from water, and the 31PNMR and GC-MS analysis proved its substantial applicability against fenitrothion. The impacts of diverse parameters on the removal outcome of fenitrothion were investigated. The 31PNMR data verified that fenitrothion was removed by the zeolite AgX/CdO NPs composite. To study the reaction kinetic, the first order model was studied. The quantities of the half-life (t1/2) and rate constant (k) calculated as 13.91 min and 0.0498 min-1, respectively. The less toxic products of dimethyl phosphorothioic acid (DMPA) and 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol (3-M-4-N) from the degradation and hydrolysis reaction were identified.