Efficient degradation of imidacloprid in soil by thermally activated persulfate process: Performance, kinetics, and mechanisms

Ecotoxicological impact of dinotefuran insecticide and its metabolites on non-targets in agroecosystem: Harnessing nanotechnology- and bio-based management strategies to reduce its impact on non-target ecosystems

The class of insecticides known as neonicotinoid insecticides has gained extensive application worldwide. Two characteristics of neonicotinoid pesticides are excellent insecticidal activity and a wide insecticidal spectrum for problematic insects. Neonicotinoid pesticides can also successfully manage pest insects that have developed resistance to other insecticide classes. Due to its powerful insecticidal properties and rapid plant absorption and translocation, dinotefuran, the most recent generation of neonicotinoid insecticides, has been widely used against biting and sucking insects. Dinotefuran has a wide range of potential applications and is often used globally. However, there is growing evidence that they negatively impact the biodiversity of organisms in agricultural settings as well as non-target organisms. The objective of this review is to present an updated summary of current understanding regarding the non-target effects of dinotefuran; we also enumerated nano- and bio-based mitigation and management strategies to reduce the impact of dinotefuran on non-target organisms and to pinpoint knowledge gaps. Finally, future study directions are suggested based on the limitations of the existing studies, with the goal of providing a scientific basis for risk assessment and the prudent use of these insecticides.

Removal of total petroleum hydrocarbons from oil-based drilling cuttings by a heat activation persulfate-based process

Oil-based drilling cuttings (OBDC) are typical hazardous wastes generated during shale gas extraction. In this study, two persulfate-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), heat/PMS and heat/PDS, have been used to treat OBDC. The results showed that for the heat/PMS process, within a certain range, the oxidant dosage, temperature, and reaction time were significantly positively correlated with the degree of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) removal. When these parameters were increased from their initial values to 3.57 mmol/g, 70°C, and 80 min, respectively, TPH removal rates increased significantly, by 20.95%, 18.68%, and 16.41%, respectively. However, further increases in these parameters had little effect on the TPH removal rate. Similar observations were made for the heat/PDS process. There are other differences between the two processes, including that the heat/PDS process required less oxidant to reach an effective activation state than the heat/PMS process, but required a higher temperature and a longer reaction time. Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry have shown that both processes could effectively remove the light components of linear paraffins contained in OBDC. The heat/PMS process performed significantly better than the heat/PDS process in removing aromatic hydrocarbons and long-chain alkanes. Scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectrometry, and X-ray diffraction analysis implied that the elemental and mineral compositions of OBDC were not significantly modified by reaction in the heat/PMS and heat/PDS processes. This study may provide theoretical support for the technological development of heat activation and persulfate-based AOPs to remove TPH from OBDC.

Performance and microbial metabolic mechanism of imidacloprid removal in a microbial electrolysis cell-integrated adsorption biological coupling system

Coke used as a filler to treat imidacloprid (IMI) wastewater by both adsorption biological coupling and microbial electrolysis cells (MEC)-adsorption biological coupling technologies, the removal efficiencies on pollutions in wastewater containing IMI were investigated, and the key functional genes related to IMI degradation pathways were also revealed. Results showed that the removal rates of COD, ammonia nitrogen, TP, and IMI under the adsorption biological coupling treatment and MEC-adsorption biological coupling treatment were 94.61-95.54%, 93.37-95.79%, 73.69-83.80%, and 100%, respectively. MEC increased the relative abundance of Proteobacteria by 9.01% and transformed the dominant bacteria from Lysobacter and Reyranella to Brevundimonas and Aquincola. Moreover, MEC up-regulated the abundance of the coding genes PK (9.30%), narG (2.26%), pstS (3.63%), and phnD (1.32%), and converted the IMI degradation products to smaller molecular weight C6H8N2 and C6H6ClNO. This study provided an important reference information for efficient treatment of IMI wastewater using the MEC-adsorption biological coupling technology.

Remediation technologies for neonicotinoids in contaminated environments: Current state and future prospects

Neonicotinoids (NEOs) are synthetic insecticides with broad-spectrum insecticidal activity and outstanding efficacy. However, their extensive use and persistence in the environment have resulted in the accumulation and biomagnification of NEOs, posing significant risks to non-target organisms and humans. This review provides a summary of research history, advancements, and highlighted topics in NEOs remediation technologies and mechanisms. Various remediation approaches have been developed, including physiochemical, microbial, and phytoremediation, with microbial and physicochemical remediation being the most extensively studied. Recent advances in physiochemical remediation have led to the development of innovative adsorbents, photocatalysts, and optimized treatment processes. High-efficiency degrading strains with well-characterized metabolic pathways have been successfully isolated and cultured for microbial remediation, while many plant species have shown great potential for phytoremediation. However, significant challenges and gaps remain in this field. Future research should prioritize isolating, domesticating or engineering high efficiency, broad-spectrum microbial strains for NEO degradation, as well as developing synergistic remediation techniques to enhance removal efficiency on multiple NEOs with varying concentrations in different environmental media. Furthermore, a shift from pipe-end treatment to pollution prevention strategies is needed, including the development of green and economically efficient alternatives such as biological insecticides. Integrated remediation technologies and case-specific strategies that can be applied to practical remediation projects need to be developed, along with clarifying NEO degradation mechanisms to improve remediation efficiency. The successful implementation of these strategies will help reduce the negative impact of NEOs on the environment and human health.