One of the most pressing global challenges today is environmental pollution resulting from the use of pesticides and the release of reactive chemicals into natural ecosystems. In this study, a green approach was employed to synthesize Ag@ZnCr₂O₄ nanocomposite using an extract from A. indica leaves. The nanocomposite was thoroughly characterized using XRD, SEM, TEM, FTIR, XPS, BET surface area analysis, UV–Vis spectroscopy for band gap determination, and TOC analysis for mineralization. Ag@ZnCr₂O₄ exhibited a distorted sphere structure with Ag nanoparticles uniformly dispersed on the surface, enhancing the surface area and active sites. The material demonstrated higher photocatalytic activity under visible light than bare ZnO and ZnCr₂O₄, achieving over 90% degradation of endosulfan (ES) and metribuzin (MB) pesticides, following first-order reaction kinetics and Langmuir adsorption isotherm behavior. LC–MS analysis enabled the identification of intermediates and the construction of the degradation pathway. The nanocomposite demonstrated excellent stability and reusability over 8 cycles, with negligible Ag leaching and remarkable reusability, highlighting its potential for industrial-scale applications.

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