Photocatalytic degradation of an organophosphorus pesticide phosalone in aqueous suspensions of titanium dioxide

The present work deals with photocatalytic degradation of an organophosphorus pesticide, phosalone, in water in the presence of TiO2 particles under UV light illumination (1000 W). The influence of the basic photocatalytic parameters such as pH of the solution, amount of TiO2, irradiation time, stirring rate, and distance from UV source, on the photodegradation efficiency of phosalone was investigated. The degradation rate of phosalone was not high when the photolysis was carried out in the absence of TiO2 and it was negligible in the absence of UV light. The half-life (DT50) of a 20 ppm aqueous solution of phosalone was 15 min in optimized conditions. The plot of lnC (phosalone) vs. time was linear, suggesting first order reaction (K=0.0532 min(-1)). The half-life time of photomineralization in the concentration range of 7.5-20 ppm was 13.02 min. The efficiency of the method was also determined by measuring the reduction of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD). During the mineralization under optimized conditions, COD decreased by more than 45% at irradiation time of 15 min. The photodegradation of phosalone was enhanced by addition of proper amount of hydrogen peroxide (150 ppm).     

Biosynthesis of iron nanoparticles and their application in removing phosphorus from aqueous solutions

This paper reports the biosynthesis of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) using the extracts of Shirazi thyme leaf (Th-nZVI) and pistachio green hulls (P-nZVI). Scanning electron microscopy verified the successful synthesis of the poorly crystalline nZVI with a spherical shape and diameter in the range of 40–70 nm. According to X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscope analyses, the synthesised nZVI were composed of iron oxides nanoparticles and ployphenol obtained from Shirazi thyme leaf and pistachio green hulls extracts acting as both reducing and capping agents. The phosphorus removal efficiency of Th-nZVI and P-nZVI increased with time and reached equilibrium at about 4 and 2h, respectively. Sorption of phosphorus on both sorbents was observed to be pH-dependent with maximum phosphorus removal occurring in the pH range of 2–5. Langmuir, Freundlich, Redlich–Peterson, and Temkin models were used to describe phosphorus sorption at pH 5 and maximum sorption capacity for Th-nZVI and P-nZVI was about 40.52 and 29.33?mg?g^?1, respectively. Correlation coefficient (R²) and standard errors of estimate showed that the Elovich model was better than other models at describing the kinetic data. These results suggested that the synthesised nZVI with Shirazi thyme leaf and pistachio green hulls extracts could be employed as an efficient sorbent for the remediation of phosphorus from contaminated water sources.     

An overview and analysis of site remediation technologies

This paper presents an analysis of the site restoration techniques that may be employed in a variety of contaminated site cleanup programs. It is recognized that no single specific technology may be considered as a panacea for all contaminated site problems. An easy-to-use summary of the analysis of the important parameters that will help in the selection and implementation of one or more appropriate technologies in a defined set of site and contaminant characteristics is also included.