MFI, BEA and FAU Zeolites scavenging role in Neonicotinoids and radical species elimination

Ecotoxicity caused by neonicotinoid pesticides is largely due to oxidative stress on non-target species. Due to the fact that reactive radical species reach the environment, materials intended for pesticide removal...

Method validation for determination of nine pesticides in okra and their mitigation using different solutions

In this paper we optimized QuEChERS method for extraction of nine pesticides viz. acephate, acetamiprid, chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, profenofos (insecticides), carbendazim and tebuconazole (fungicides) and performed their quantitative estimation in okra crop by HPLC-UV and GC-ECD. Decontamination treatments namely washing with running tap water, soaking in lukewarm water (50–60°C), soaking in solutions of 1% NaCl, 5% NaHCO3, 2% CH3COOH, 0.01% KMnO4 and three commercial formulations were also done for ten minutes every time, to calculate the extent of pesticide removal from okra. Results revealed that the proposed extraction method was efficient, inexpensive, accurate, rapid and precise and can suitably be used for the simultaneous quantitative determination of the above pesticides. The standard curve was linear over the concentration range of 0.05–5μg g-1 with R2 close to one (0.999). Soaking of okra in 2% acetic acid and then washing proved as the best decontamination treatments for all the pesticides. It showed the highest relative decontaminating capacity in comparison to the other solutions tested. Since the pesticide residues are usually present in higher amount in vegetables being consumed, it is of utmost importance to keep an eye over the use of pesticides to protect the crops.

Antimicrobial Hydrophilic Membrane Formed by Incorporation of Polymeric Surfactant and Patchouli Oil

Membrane properties are highly affected by the composition of the polymer solutions that make up the membrane material and their influence in the filtration performance on the separation or purification process. This paper studies the effects of the addition of pluronic (Plu) and patchouli oil (PO) in a polyethersulfone (PES) solution on the membrane morphology, membrane hydrophilicity, and filtration performance in the pesticide removal compound in the water sample. Three types of membranes with the composition of PES, PES + Plu, and PES + Plu + patchouli oil were prepared through a polymer phase inversion technique in an aqueous solvent. The resulting membranes were then analyzed and tested for their mechanical properties, hydrophilicity, antimicrobial properties, and filtration performance (cross-flow ultrafiltration). The results show that all of the prepared membranes could reject 75% of the pesticide. The modification of the PES membrane with Plu was shown to increase the overall pore size by altering the pore morphology of the pristine PES, which eventually increased the permeation flux of the ultrafiltration process. Furthermore, patchouli oil added antimicrobial properties, potentially minimizing the biofilm formation on the membrane surface.

Amine Modified Magnetic Diatomite Particles as an Effcicent Adsorbent for Pecticide Removal

Pesticides are one of the most critical emerging contaminants which are highly toxic for the environment and have potential risk to human health. In this study, surface-modified magnetic diatomite particles (m-DE-APTES) have been suc-cessfully synthesized and used as a sorbent for the removal of endosulfan from an aqueous solution. Magnetic diatomite particles with surface modification were characterized by Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scan-ning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), electron spin resonance (ESR), and surface area measurements. Characterization results sug-gest that magnetic diatomite has a high surface area and porous structure. In addition, m-DE-APTES has higher adsorption capacity (97.2 mg/g) for en-dosulfan pesticide than unmodified diatomite particles (DE) (16.6 mg/g). The adsorption data fit the Langmuir model (R2=0.9905), and the adsorption process took place spontaneously with the values of ΔGo as -2.576. In conclusion, the surface-modified diatomite particles are promising alternative adsorbents for pesticide removal from aqueous solutions.