Photocatalysis is a promising technology to remove several persistent and recalcitrant pollutants in water and wastewater. Most of the conventional chemical and physical synthesis routes of photocatalysts result in the release of toxic pollutants to the environment and hence green synthesis is a better alternative. Green synthesis of photocatalyst using plants, fungi, bacteria, yeast, and other biological sources is widely explored in recent years. The presence of various biomolecules used in green synthesis replaces conventional reducing and stabilizing agents such as hydrazine, sodium borohydride, ascorbic acids, and other polymer substitutes. This review focuses on the synthesis of photocatalysts using plant extracts through different synthesis routes and explores the efficacy of photocatalyst synthesized via plant extract mediated synthesis routes in the photodegradation of organic compounds present in water. The pathway as well as the factors affecting the formation of photocatalysts, the role of plant extract in the photocatalytic properties are explored in detail. The action of plant-mediated photocatalyst on the pollutant and the underlying predominant degradation mechanism are also discussed. Besides, this study gives an insight into the recyclability of the photocatalyst synthesized via plant extract mediated synthesis routes and addresses future perspectives and the challenges of green photocatalysts.

光催化是去除水和废水中几种持久性和顽固性污染物的有前途的技术。光催化剂的大多数常规化学和物理合成路线会导致有毒污染物释放到环境中，因此绿色合成是更好的选择。近年来，人们广泛探索了利用植物、真菌、细菌、酵母等生物资源绿色合成光催化剂。绿色合成中使用的各种生物分子的存在取代了传统的还原剂和稳定剂，例如肼、硼氢化钠、抗坏血酸和其他聚合物替代品。本综述侧重于利用植物提取物通过不同的合成途径合成光催化剂，并探讨了通过植物提取物介导的合成途径合成的光催化剂在光降解水中有机化合物中的功效。详细探讨了影响光催化剂形成的途径和因素，植物提取物在光催化性能中的作用。还讨论了植物介导的光催化剂对污染物的作用和潜在的主要降解机制。此外，该研究深入了解了通过植物提取物介导的合成路线合成的光催化剂的可回收性，并解决了绿色光催化剂的未来前景和挑战。详细探讨了影响光催化剂形成的途径和因素，植物提取物在光催化性能中的作用。还讨论了植物介导的光催化剂对污染物的作用和潜在的主要降解机制。此外，该研究深入了解了通过植物提取物介导的合成路线合成的光催化剂的可回收性，并解决了绿色光催化剂的未来前景和挑战。详细探讨了影响光催化剂形成的途径和因素，植物提取物在光催化性能中的作用。还讨论了植物介导的光催化剂对污染物的作用和潜在的主要降解机制。此外，该研究深入了解了通过植物提取物介导的合成路线合成的光催化剂的可回收性，并解决了绿色光催化剂的未来前景和挑战。