The group of WU Zhengyan has developed a KMnO4 /graphite composite catalyst using high energy electron beam irradiation which reduced MnO4- to MnO2 in graphite nanospheres. The resulting MnO2/C composite possessed high catalytic degradation efficiency for glyphosate under sunlight due to its high porosity, large specific surface area, and its large number of active sites which greatly enhanced the utilization of UV light. Through catalytic degradation under sunlight, 92.05% of the initial glyphosate was degraded to PO43-, H2O and CO2. The process might reduce water contamination by glyphosate through rain washoff.
CAS news release, August 29, 2016