Evaluación de la degradación del pesticida Mertect empleando procesos avanzados de oxidación (PAO)

Abstract

Introduction. In this moment, an application of advanced oxidation processes (AOP) is being developed. They are based on technologies for the destruction of pollutants by the use of chemical substances known as hydroxyl free radicals, which have high oxidation properties. Those radicals react with the pollutant and transform it into environmentally harmless compounds. For the specific case of Mertect pesticide several advanced oxidation processes have been studied, among which chemical oxidation, photolysis and homogeneous and heterogeneous photocatalysis can be remarked. They aim to degrade this pollutant and thus reducing the negative impacts it can bring to the environment. Objective. To evaluate the degradation efficiency of the Mertect pesticide by the use of advanced oxidation processes (AOP). Materials and methods. For the experimental part of the project, a factorial 33 experimental design was proposed. For this design it was used a photo reactor that consisted on an ultra violet light lamp, a glass container to keep the solution of the pesticide to be degraded and a submersible pump that allowed the solution to recirculate through the treatment system. The degradation of the pesticide was measured by ultra violet/visible spectrophotometry. Results. Photochemical processes based on heterogeneous photocatalysis with titanium dioxide – TiO2– and homogeneous photocatalysis with iron (III) have significant removal rates of the Mertect pesticide, above 99.0% and 95.0%, respectively, for the aforementioned oxidation processes. Conclusion. Advanced oxidation processes are adequate for the removal and degradation of the Mertect pesticide.