Degradation of endosulfan and lindane using Fenton\u2019s reagent

Asfiya Begum,Sumit Kumar Gautam,Amit B Mahindrakar,Prakhar Agnihotri

doi:10.1007/s13201-014-0237-z

Abstract

Advanced oxidation of endosulfan and lindane was investigated using Fenton’s reagent (FeSO4/H2O2) in aqueous phase. A pH of 3 was chosen as optimum with the degradation efficiency of 83 % for endosulfan and 92 % for lindane. FeSO4 dose of 50 and 20 mg ml−1 was found to be optimum for endosulfan and lindane, respectively, with the degradation efficiency of ~83 % at pH 3. Further addition of FeSO4 remained unutilized and contributed to the dissolved solid content. FeSO4:H2O2 (w/w) ratio of 1:4.7 and 1:7 was optimized for endosulfan and lindane, respectively. First-order reaction kinetics (5, 7.5 and 10 ppm) were observed for both endosulfan and lindane degradations. Calculated rate constant values (kobs’) for initial endosulfan concentration of 5, 7.5 and 10 ppm were 0.021, 0.133, 0.046 min−1, respectively. While rate constant values (kobs’) of 0.057, 0.035 and 0.034 min−1 were observed for kinetics performed with 5, 7.5 and 10 ppm initial lindane concentrations, respectively. GC–MS analysis revealed that degradation process for endosulfan was sequential with the formation of methyl cyclohexane followed by 1-hexene. While lindane degradation process was spontaneous with the formation of 1-hexene formed by benzene ring fission.

Highlights

IntroductionEndosulfan and Lindane have been used as insecticides on a wide variety of crops (cotton, cereals, fruit trees and plantation crops such as tea and coffee), in public health programs to control vector-borne diseases, and as wood preservatives (Weber et al 2009)
Endosulfan and Lindane have been used as insecticides on a wide variety of crops, in public health programs to control vector-borne diseases, and as wood preservatives (Weber et al 2009)
FeSO4 dose of 50 and 20 mg ml-1 was found to be optimum for endosulfan and lindane, respectively, with the degradation efficiency of *83 % at pH 3

Summary

Introduction

Endosulfan and Lindane have been used as insecticides on a wide variety of crops (cotton, cereals, fruit trees and plantation crops such as tea and coffee), in public health programs to control vector-borne diseases, and as wood preservatives (Weber et al 2009). Lindane has been reported to cause disturbances in the rat estrus cycle, lengthened gestation period, decreased fecundity, and increased fetal mortality (Colborn et al 1993; Sharara et al 1998) Both endosulfan and lindane have been classified as highly toxic pesticides in EPA toxicity class I and class II, respectively, and are considered as chloroorganic contaminants in the European Union’s black list of chemicals (Jaradat 2009; Rodriguez 2003) Due to their toxicity and high persistence in various environmental compartments (soil, water and living organisms), it becomes imperative to develop indigenous technologies for the remediation of these chlorinated pesticides (endosulfan and lindane) in contaminated sites. Recent advancement in the field of science and technology has suggested that these potentially harmful chemicals could be removed by Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs)

Methods

Results

Conclusion