Effective photocatalytic decolorization of methylene blue utilizing ZnO/rectorite nanocomposite under simulated solar irradiation

•Preparation of ZnO inserted in rectorite as photocatalyst in methylene blue photodegradation.•The ZnO/rectorite can be used as adsorbents and photocatalysts.•The ZnO/rectorite system was easy to be gathered and recycled.•Inferred ZnO/rectorite the photocatalytic degradation methylene blue of aqueous micro mechanism.