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Gamma radiolytic decomposition of endosulfan in aerated solution: the role of carbonate radical

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Abstract

The present study elaborates the removal of endosulfan, an emerging water pollutant and potential carcinogenic, in aerated solution. The influence of Cl−, NO3 −, NO2 −, CO3 2−, HCO3 −, SO3 2−, and humic acid was assessed on the radiolytic degradation of endosulfan. A strong inhibition on the radiolytic degradation of endosulfan was observed in the presence of NO3 −, NO2 −, and SO3 2−. Instead, a slight increase in the removal efficiency of endosulfan was observed at high concentrations of CO3 2− and HCO3 −. The formation of CO3 •− in radiolytic degradation of endosulfan in the presence of CO3 2− and HCO3 − was demonstrated by adding SO3 2− that rapidly react with CO3 •−. The results indicate that CO3 •− formed from the reactions of CO3 2− and HCO3 − and commonly found in natural water can play an important role in the degradation of endosulfan and other sulfur containing electron-rich compounds. The study showed faster degradation of endosulfan at lower concentration compared to high concentration and removal was found to follow pseudo-first-order kinetic. Endosulfan ether was found as the main degradation product and degradation pathway was found to be initiated at the S=O bond of endosulfan. The efficiency of gamma irradiation in the removal of endosulfan was examined in terms of formation of short chain organic acids and chloride ion accumulation.

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Acknowledgment

The authors are thankful to the Higher Education Commission Pakistan (HEC) for fellowship for higher study (to NSS) and research project grant (to HMK). The authors are also thankful to the Nuclear Institute for Foods and Agriculture (NIFA) authorities for permission to use gamma irradiation facility for this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Vehari, 61100, Pakistan

    Noor S. Shah

  2. Radiation Chemistry Laboratory, National Centre of Excellence in Physical Chemistry, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan

    Noor S. Shah, Javed Ali Khan, Murtaza Sayed & Hasan M. Khan

  3. Petroleum and Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman

    Ala’a H. Al-Muhtaseb

  4. Department of Chemistry, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Abbotabad, 22060, Pakistan

    Murtaza Sayed

Authors
  1. Noor S. Shah
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  2. Javed Ali Khan
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  3. Ala’a H. Al-Muhtaseb
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  4. Murtaza Sayed
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  5. Hasan M. Khan
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Noor S. Shah or Hasan M. Khan.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Bingcai Pan

Highlights

• Removal of endosulfan was assessed by gamma irradiation in aerated solution.

• Superoxide and carbonate radical played significant role in endosulfan degradation.

• Removal efficiency and dose constant decreased with increasing endosulfan concentration.

• By-products and short chain organic acids were evaluated.

• Gamma radiation proved to be effective in toxicity reduction of chlorinated compounds.

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Shah, N.S., Khan, J.A., Al-Muhtaseb, A.H. et al. Gamma radiolytic decomposition of endosulfan in aerated solution: the role of carbonate radical. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 12362–12371 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6415-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6415-9

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