The nonylphenol degradation under UV irradiation in the presence of Ag–ZnO nanorods: Effect of parameters and degradation pathway

•ZnO and Ag–ZnO nanorods were synthesized with the hydrothermal method.•The structural, morphological, textural and optical properties were studied.•Ag–ZnO showed high photocatalytic activity for the NP degradation and mineralization.•Operational parameters were studied on the NP degradation and mineralization.•The degradation mechanism was proposed by the analysis of the intermediates.