Rapid and efficient removal of acetochlor from environmental water using Cr-MIL-101 sorbent modified with 3, 5-Bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl isocyanate

Construction and biological effects of a redox-enzyme dual-responsive lufenuron nano-controlled release formulation

BACKGROUND

Pesticide formulations based on nanotechnology can effectively improve the efficiency of pesticide utilization and reduce pesticide residues in the environment. In this study, mesoporous silica nanoparticles containing disulfide bonds were synthesized by the sol-gel method, carboxylated and adsorbed with lufenuron, and grafted with cellulose to obtain a lufenuron-loaded nano-controlled release formulation (Luf@MSNs-ss-cellulose).

RESULTS

The structure and properties of Luf@MSNs-ss-cellulose were characterized. The results showed that Luf@MSNs-ss-cellulose exhibits a regular spherical shape with 12.41% pesticide loading. The highest cumulative release rate (73.46%) of this pesticide-loaded nanoparticle was observed at 7 days in the environment of glutathione and cellulase, which shows redox-enzyme dual-responsive performance. As a result of cellulose grafting, Luf@MSNs-ss-cellulose had a small contact angle and high adhesion work on corn leaves, indicating good wetting and adhesion properties. After 14 days of spraying with 20 mg L-1 formulations in the long-term control efficacy experiment, the mortality of Luf@MSNs-ss-cellulose against Ostrinia furnacalis larvae (56.67%) was significantly higher than that of commercial Luf@EW (36.67%). Luf@MSNs-ss-cellulose is safer for earthworms and L02 cells.

CONCLUSION

The nano-controlled release formulation obtained in this study achieved intelligent pesticide delivery in time and space under the environmental stimulation of glutathione and cellulase, providing an effective method for the development of novel pesticide delivery systems. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Impact of Natural Organic Matter Competition on the Adsorptive Removal of Acetochlor and Metolachlor from Low-Specific UV Absorbance Surface Waters

Although activated carbon adsorption is a very promising process for the removal of organic compounds from surface waters, the removal performance for nonionic pesticides could be adversely affected by co-occurring natural organic matter. Natural organic matter can compete with pesticides during the adsorption process, and the size of natural organic matter affects the removal of pesticides, as low-molecular-weight organics directly compete for adsorbent sites with pesticides. This study aims to investigate the competitive impact of low-molecular-weight organics on the adsorptive removal of acetochlor and metolachlor by four commercial powdered activated carbons. The adsorption features of selected powdered activated carbons were evaluated in surface water samples collected from the influent stream of the filtration process having 2.75 mg/L organic matter and 0.87 L/mg-m specific UV absorbance. The adsorption kinetics and capacities were examined by employing pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and intraparticle diffusion kinetic models and modified Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm models to the experimental data. The competitive removal of acetochlor and metolachlor in the presence of natural organic matter was evaluated for varied powdered activated carbon dosages on the basis of UV and specific UV absorbance values of adsorbed organic matter. The adsorption data were well represented by the modified Freundlich isotherm, as well as pseudo-second-order kinetics. The maximum organic matter adsorption capacities of the modified Freundlich isotherm were observed to be 120.6 and 127.2 mg/g by Norit SX Ultra and 99.5 and 100.6 mg/g by AC Puriss for acetochlor- and metolachlor-containing water samples, respectively. Among the four powdered activated carbons, Norit SX Ultra and AC Puriss provided the highest natural organic matter removal performances with 76 and 72% and 71 and 65% for acetochlor- and metolachlor-containing samples, respectively. Similarly, Norit SX Ultra and AC Puriss were very effective for adsorbing aromatic organics with higher than 80% specific UV absorbance removal efficiency. Metolachlor was almost completely removed by higher than 98% by Norit SX Ultra, Norit SX F Cat, and AC Puriss, even at low adsorbent dosages. However, an adsorbent dose of 100 mg/L and above should be added for all powdered activated carbons, except for Norit SX F Cat, for achieving an acetochlor removal performance of higher than 98%. The competition between low-molecular-weight organics (low-specific UV absorbance) and acetochlor and metolachlor was more apparent at low adsorbent dosages (10-75 mg/L).

Rapid and efficient removal of multiple aqueous pesticides by one-step construction boric acid modified biochar

Tricyclazole, propiconazole, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam are commonly used pesticides in paddy fields. It is necessary and practical to remove pesticides from the water environment because the low utilization rate of pesticides will produce residues in the water environment. It is known that there are few studies on the preparation of biochar adsorption pesticides by the walnut shell and few studies on the removal of tricyclazole and propiconazole. Based on this, this paper used the walnut shell as raw material and boric acid as an activator to prepare biochar by the one-step method. The boric acid modified walnut shell biochar (WAB4) with a specific surface area of 640.6 m² g^-1, exhibited the high adsorption capacity of all four pesticides (>70%) at pH 3-9. The adsorption capacities of tricyclazole, propiconazole, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam were 171.67, 112.27, 156.40, and 137.46 mg g^-1, respectively. The adsorption kinetics fitted the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the adsorption isotherm curves conformed to the Freundlich isotherm model. The adsorption of pesticides by WAB4 was associated with hydrogen bonding, pore filling, hydrophobic effects, and π-π interactions. More significantly, WAB4 has excellent adsorption capacity compared to other adsorbents for real water samples. Finally, walnut shell biochar has no significant acute toxicity to Daphnia magna. This work shows that walnut shell-based biochar has a good effect on the removal of pesticides at a wide range of pH and is economical and safe, providing a new idea for the removal of pesticides in water.

Preparation of monosodium 2-sulfoterephthalate to make a MIL-101(Cr)–SO3H catalyst

MIL-101(Cr)-SO3H has excellent thermal and chemical stabilities, making it an ideal porous acid catalyst for many organic reactions and petrochemical industries. It's starting ligand can be lab-prepared.

A Robust PVDF-Assisted Composite Membrane for Tetracycline Degradation in Emulsion and Oil-Water Separation

Tetracycline (TC) contamination in water has progressively exacerbated the environmental crisis. It is urgent to develop a feasible method to solve this pollution in water. However, polluted water often contains oil. This paper reported a glass fiber (FG)-assisted polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) hybrid membrane with dual functions: high TC degradation efficiency in emulsion and oil-water separation. It can meet the catalytic degradation of tetracycline in complex water. This membrane was decorated by coating the glass fiber with PVDF solution containing hydrophilic graphene oxide hybridized NH2-MIL-101(Fe) particles. Moreover, due to its strong mechanical strength enhanced by the glass fiber, it can be reused as TC degradation catalysts for dozens of times without cracking. Thanks to the hydrophobicity of PVDF and the surface pore size of MOFs, the prepared membrane showed a good oil-water separation performance. Besides, the hydrophilic graphene oxide (GO) and NH2-MIL-101(Fe) improved the membrane's anti-fouling performance, allowing it to be reused as the separation membrane. Therefore, the outstanding stability and recoverability of the membrane make it as a fantastic candidate material for large-scale removal of TC as well as oil-water separation application.

Introducing reticular chemistry into agrochemistry

For survival and quality of life, human society has sought more productive, precise, and sustainable agriculture. Agrochemistry, which solves farming issues in a chemical manner, is the core engine that drives the evolution of modern agriculture. To date, agrochemistry has utilized chemical technologies in the form of pesticides, fertilizers, veterinary drugs and various functional materials to meet fundamental demands from human society, while increasing the socio-ecological consequences due to inefficient use. Thus, more useful, precise, and designable scaffolding materials are required to support sustainable agrochemistry. Reticular chemistry, which weaves molecular units into frameworks, has been applied in many fields based on two cutting-edge porous framework materials, namely metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent-organic frameworks (COFs). With flexibility in composition, structure, and pore chemistry, MOFs and COFs have shown increasing functionalities associated with agrochemistry in the last decade, potentially introducing reticular chemistry as a highly accessible chemical toolbox into agrochemical technologies. In this critical review, we will demonstrate how reticular chemistry shapes the future of agrochemistry in the fields of farm sensing, agro-ecological preservation and reutilization, agrochemical formulations, smart indoor farming, agrobiotechnology, and beyond.

A Critical Review on Metal-Organic Frameworks and Their Composites as Advanced Materials for Adsorption and Photocatalytic Degradation of Emerging Organic Pollutants from Wastewater

Water-borne emerging pollutants are among the greatest concern of our modern society. Many of these pollutants are categorized as endocrine disruptors due to their environmental toxicities. They are harmful to humans, aquatic animals, and plants, to the larger extent, destroying the ecosystem. Thus, effective environmental remediations of these pollutants became necessary. Among the various remediation techniques, adsorption and photocatalytic degradation have been single out as the most promising. This review is devoted to the compilations and analysis of the role of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and their composites as potential materials for such applications. Emerging organic pollutants, like dyes, herbicides, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, phenols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and perfluorinated alkyl substances, have been extensively studied. Important parameters that affect these processes, such as surface area, bandgap, percentage removal, equilibrium time, adsorption capacity, and recyclability, are documented. Finally, we paint the current scenario and challenges that need to be addressed for MOFs and their composites to be exploited for commercial applications.