Photodegradation of Fipronil by Zn-AlPO4 Materials Synthesized by Non-Hydrolytic Sol–Gel Method

Abstract

In recent decades, the increasing use of pesticides to improve food productivity has led to the release of effluents that contaminate the environment. To prepare a material that may help to treat effluents generated during agricultural practice, we used a new method based on the non-hydrolytic sol-gel route to obtain zinc photocatalysts in aluminophosphate matrixes. IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, differential scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersion spectroscopy, and specific surface area and pore volume determined from the nitrogen adsorbed were used to characterize materials treated at different temperatures. X-ray analysis showed how heat-treatment affected the structure of the material: Zn-AlPO4 in the trigonal and orthorhombic phase was obtained at 750 and 1000 °C, respectively. These phases directly influenced the ability of the material to generate OH radicals. The capacity of the materials to treat effluents was tested in the photodegradation of the pesticide Fipronil. The photocatalytic reactions were monitored by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses. Zn-AlPO4 treated at 750 °C showed better photodegradation results--it removed 80% of the pesticide in 2 h when higher mass (150 mg) was tested. Long-time treatment of the effluent with Zn-AlPO4 treated at 750 °C completely photodegraded Fipronil. GC-MS analysis confirmed the photodegration profile, and only traces of Fipronil were observed after photocatalytic reaction for 120 min in the presence of Zn-AlPO4 treated at 750 °C under UV radiation.

Synthesis of CBO (Co3O4-Bi2O3) Heterogeneous Photocatalyst for Degradation of Fipronil and Acetochlor Pesticides in Aqueous Medium

“…It is efficacious in the control of insects that have resistance to other insecticides like carbamate, organophosphorus, cyclodiene, and pyrethroids. It disrupts the central nervous system through interfering with the flow of Cl 1through the γ-aminobutyric acid-regulated chloride channel [12]. Acetochlor, which is widely used in agriculture applications for the control of annual grasses and broad-leaf weeds, is an effective chloroacetanilide herbicide.…”

A Themed Issue in Honor of Prof. Dr. Vicente Rives

“…This Special Issue has received eighteen contributions, six review papers [1][2][3][4][5][6], and twelve research papers [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]. Most of the papers originated from groups who have previously worked with Prof. Rives, but five of the contributions came from authors who had not previously worked with him [6,7,13,17,18].…”

“…Therefore, it was not surprising that these materials were the basis of eight of the papers published in this Special Issue [2][3][4]10,11,[15][16][17]. Other materials included Ni-based catalysts [1], g-C 3 N 4 [5], mesoporous silica [6], MOFs [7], carbons [8,9], AlPO 4 [12], acid-modified clays [13], and porous aluminosilicates [17]. Finally, one of the papers was devoted to the study of cultural heritage conservation [14].…”

“…Labajos et al explored new routes for the preparation of LDHs using various amines in the synthesis process [10], while Nebot-Díaz et al used LDH as precursors of nanoparticle black pigments for the ceramic industry [11]. Ciuffi et al used Zn-AlPO 4 as photocatalysts for the degradation of fipronil [12], and Cesteros et al used acid-modified clays as catalysts for the preparation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural from glucose [13]. Vicente et al prepared Fe-doped hydrocalumites (a type of LDH) from aluminum slags and used them for the photodegradation of ibuprofen [15].…”