In-situ coupling of fiber-optic photocatalysis with ion adsorption for synergistic, efficient glyphosate removal from water

Glyphosate is a persistent herbicide that contaminates water and poses health risks, yet conventional removal methods remain limited. Photocatalysis offers a promising alternative but is hindered by issues such as charge recombination, poor light utilization, and the formation of phosphate (PO 4 3- ) by-products. In this study, a coupled system is constructed, comprising ZnIn 2 S 4 nanocage (ZIS-HNCs)/BiOCl mesoporous single-crystal nanosheet (BiOCl MSCN) heterojunction–photocatalytic optical and Fe-modified zeolite fibers, to completely remove glyphosate from aqueous environments. Light radiated from the hollow optical fibers excites the ZIS-HNCs/BiOCl MSCN photocatalyst to generate electron–hole pairs. The formation of a heterojunction between ZIS-HNCs and BiOCl MSCN accelerates interfacial charge transfer, increases the production of holes and electrons, and consequently enhances their performance in degrading glyphosate. PO 4 3- produced from photocatalytic degradation is removed in situ by the Fe-modified zeolite fibers through Fe–O–P coordination and electrostatic adsorption. This suppresses the quenching of photogenerated electron–hole pairs by PO 4 3- , further enhancing the efficiency of glyphosate degradation and inhibiting the formation of phosphate by-products. The photocatalysis–ion adsorption coupling strategy provides a novel and effective approach for the simultaneous removal of pesticide residues from aquatic environments.