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• Green Co 3 O 4 /SF-MCM-41 photocatalyst was synthesized from silica fume and Pomegranate leaves. • It is of enhanced photocatalytic properties than Co 3 O 4 in the oxidation of Omethoate pesticide. • It is achieved 100 % oxidation percentage for 50 mg/L of Omethoate after 30 min under visible light. • The results revealed presences of organic intermediate compounds during the oxidation stages. • All the formed intermediate compounds were transformed into NO 3 −, SO 4 2-, PO 4 3, and CO 2. Advanced nanocomposite from silica-fume based MCM-41 and cobalt oxide (Co 3 O 4 /SF-MCM-41) which precipitated by green techniques in the presences of Pomegranate leaves extract as reducing reagent. The formation of the Co 3 O 4 /SF-MCM-41composite was confirmed by different studied analytic techniques and applied as novel photocatalyst in the visible light oxidation of Omethoate pesticide. The composite is of stunning surface area (742 m2/g) and low band gap energy value (1.53 eV) which giving it promising photocatalytic performances. It showed highly effective photocatalytic activity which reflected in a complete degradation of 50 mg/L, 100 mg/L, 150 mg/L, 200 mg/L and 250 mg/L of Omethoate after 30 min, 50 min, 80 min, 100 min, and 120 min, respectively using 0.25 g of Co 3 O 4 /SF-MCM-41. This associated with complete degradation of the detected TOC content within the same time intervals. The detected intermediate organic materials of (CH 3 O) 3 P(O), (CH 3 O) 2 P(O)SCH 3 , CH 3 NHC(O)CH 2 SH, CH 3 NHC(O)CH 2 SCH 3 , and NH 2 C(O)CH 2 SCH 3 were identified as oxidizing products during the degradation steps and all of them were converted into NO 3 −, SO 4 2-, PO 4 3-, and CO 2 as final products. The composite is of reusability value and the hydroxyl radicals were identified as the controlling radicals during the oxidation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]