Abstract
High azoxystrobin (AZO), difenoconazole (DFZ), and imidacloprid (IMD) pesticide removal rates in sixteen bench-scale experiments concerning tomato washing water treatment were obtained through a UVC/H2O2 advanced oxidative process. Experimental conditions ([H2O2]0) and irradiance (EUVC) were optimized for higher degradation rates (pseudo-first-order reaction). To consider both economic aspects and environmental impacts when defining the treatment technology, as well as technological requirements, this study applied a multi-criteria decision-making method (MCDM) to assess and differentiate similar UVC/H2O2 process configurations. This allowed for the identification of the cheapest experimental arrangement with the lowest associated environmental impacts, coupled to the highest degradation rate (kIMD). After consulting experts to determine the importance of the applied criteria and measuring alternative performances, experiment E7 ([H2O2]0 = 43.5 mg L−1; EUVC = 15.0 W m−2; kIMD = 0.236 s−1) was determined as meeting the three criteria in a balanced manner. Although E7′s technological performance regarding degradation rate did not achieve the best individual result, it presented the lowest impacts and costs among the analyzed series, although alternatives are sensitive to decision-maker priorities. This study considered different factors of a process displaying potential industrial applications still in the design stage to achieve a more efficient and balanced solution.
Highlights
Brazil is currently one of the largest agricultural producers worldwide and, since2008, the main pesticide consumer on a global scale [1,2]
The project from which this research originates from investigated the influence of initial H2 O2 concentrations ([H2 O2 ]0 ) (x1 ) and irradiance (x2 ) on the performance of the UVC/H2 O2 system in the treatment of tomato rinse water contaminated by the three active ingredients AZO, DFZ and IMD
Order reaction rate for this active ingredients (AIs) were generally lower than those obtained for kAZO and kDFZ
Summary
Brazil is currently one of the largest agricultural producers worldwide and, since2008, the main pesticide consumer on a global scale [1,2]. Effluents from the tomato washing process constitute a significant threat to humans, and the environment exposure route to these compounds, alongside extensive pesticide use in agriculture, soil transport, and sprinkler equipment washing, constitutes a prominent factor in water body contamination. Prior to fruit processing to generate consumer goods and their derivatives, tomatoes are unloaded on conveyor belts and water is used for transport and surface washing. At this stage, pesticide residues not absorbed by these fruits before harvesting may be transferred to the aqueous phase [6,7]. The UVC/H2 O2 technology is noteworthy in this context, reducing the hazards of contaminated effluents to limits capable of preserving the integrity of receiving bodies, and even enabling water reuse in agroindustry operations
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