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Removal of Metaldehyde Through Photocatalytic Reactions Using Nano-Sized Zinc Oxide Composites

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Abstract

Metaldehyde is a selective molluscicide used in the agricultural and residential sector to control slugs and snails for a wide variety of crops. In recent years, some water companies have started monitoring drinking water supply catchments for presence of this compound, with positive and concern results. Conventional techniques are yet to achieve complete efficient and feasible removal of metaldehyde. The aim of this study was to measure the efficiency of nano-sized zinc oxide/laponite composites (NZnC) in the effective removal of metaldehyde (influent concentration of 500 μg dm−3) through the interaction of photocatalysis. Reaction time, pH of sample solution and NZnC mass were tested against each other using a rotatable central composite design method of experimentation. Statistical tests showed that linear effects of time, quadratic/linear effects of NZnC mass and the interaction of pH and NZnC mass proved to be the most significant variables for degrading metaldehyde. Optimal values of each variable for the highest removal efficiency were achieved, being pH equal to 10.4 and NZnC mass added equal to 28 g. The rate of reaction was then predicted by non-linear regression of four models. The best fit was provided by the modified first-order with residual kinetic model, with the apparent degradation coefficient k equal to 0.0363 min−1 and the lowest remaining metaldehyde concentration observed among all runs was 278.7 μg dm−3. NZnC has shown to be a prominent nanotechnology for metaldehyde removal.

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Acknowledgments

This project was supported by the Korean Ministry of Environment as “The GAIA project (no. 2012000550005)”. Dr A. C. Borges was supported by the Brazilian Research Council (CNPq-PDE 202096/2010-6).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Eng, University College London, Chadwick Building, Gower Street, WC1E 6BT, London, UK

    F. C. Doria, J. K. Kim & L. C. Campos

  2. Department of Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Viçosa, Ave. P. H. Rolfs, s/n, 36.570-000, Viçosa, MG, Brazil

    A. C. Borges

  3. Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Trumpington Street, CB2 1PZ, Cambridge, UK

    A. Nathan

  4. Korea Institute of Construction Technology, Ilsanseo-Gu, GoyangSi, Gyeonggi-Do, 411-742, South Korea

    J. C. Joo

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  1. F. C. Doria
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  2. A. C. Borges
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  3. J. K. Kim
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  4. A. Nathan
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  5. J. C. Joo
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  6. L. C. Campos
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Correspondence to A. C. Borges.

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Doria, F.C., Borges, A.C., Kim, J.K. et al. Removal of Metaldehyde Through Photocatalytic Reactions Using Nano-Sized Zinc Oxide Composites. Water Air Soil Pollut 224, 1434 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-013-1434-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-013-1434-3

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