Issue 7, 2024

Cation–π-induced mixed-matrix nanocomposite for the detection and removal of Hg2+ and azinphos-methyl towards environment remediation

Abstract

The unregulated use of pesticides, which constitutes organophosphates, demands their continuous monitoring from a human health perspective. The development of efficient, reliable and affordable methods for the effective quantification, removal and detoxification of pesticides is indeed a significant challenge in the fields of agriculture, environmental science and public health. Herein, we designed a simple approach for the construction of a functionalised electrochemical material that includes the following steps: (i) the cation–π induced non-covalent functionalization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with an organic cation IL, and (ii) the complexation of IL@MWCNTs with Hg2+ to accelerate electron transfer, apparently enhancing the response of Hg/IL@MWCNTs towards azinphos-methyl, as revealed by cyclic voltammetry. Hg/IL@MWCNTs/GCE exhibits electrocatalytic behaviour towards azinphos-methyl (AZM) with a low detection limit of 1.10 μM and a wide linear range (0.20–180 μM). The degradation of the AZM pesticide was supported by 31P NMR titration and mass spectrometry, which confirmed the conversion of AZM into its non-toxic products. Taking into account the aforementioned findings, the functionalised IL@MWCNT composite was fabricated into an ultrathin polyamide layer on a PES support membrane via interfacial polymerisation for practical application. The developed nanocomposite membrane removes the Hg2+ metal ion and azinphos-methyl pesticide from contaminated water with a removal efficiency of 95% and 90%, respectively.

Graphical abstract: Cation–π-induced mixed-matrix nanocomposite for the detection and removal of Hg2+ and azinphos-methyl towards environment remediation

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
12 févr. 2024
Accepted
25 avr. 2024
First published
26 avr. 2024

Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2024,10, 1595-1609

Cation–π-induced mixed-matrix nanocomposite for the detection and removal of Hg2+ and azinphos-methyl towards environment remediation

K. Kaur, G. Singh, N. Kaur and N. Singh, Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2024, 10, 1595 DOI: 10.1039/D4EW00114A

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements