Photocatalytic degradation of pesticide monocrotophos in water using W-TiO2 in slurry and fixed bed recirculating reactor

•MCP degradation in water was done using W-TiO2 catalyst in slury and fixed-bed RTPR.•100% degradation of MCP was observed in 360 min of reaction time in fixed-bed RTPR.•Reduction in COD was observed as 91.5 and 87.8% in suspended and fixed bed reactor. Slurry and fixed bed Recirculating type photocatalytic reactor (RTPR) was fabricated to study the degradation of monocrotophos pesticides in water using W-doped TiO2. Different parameters such as light conditions, dopant concentration, calcination temperature, catalyst loading, and initial concentration of MCP at pH = 5 were optimized in the slurry reactor and about 99% of MCP degradation in 200 min was observed. The catalyst was also immobilized on the Clay beads. The photoactive efficiency of W-TiO2 coated clay beads was tested using RTPR for the degradation of MCP (2L, 25 mg L−1) at its natural pH under solar irradiation conditions (600 W m−2 avg.) at an optimized flow rate of 400 ml min−1 and controlled temperature of 25 ± 1 °C and 100% degradation of MCP was observed in 360 min of reaction time. Furthermore, 91.57% and 87.89% reduction in COD of MCP was observed while analyzing the mineralization studies of suspended and fixed bed reactors, respectively. Graphical abstract [Display omitted] .