Title: Electrochemical oxidation of two organophosphoric obsolete pesticide stocks

Authors: Apostolos Vlyssides, Dimitris Arapoglou, Sofia Mai, Elli Maria Barampouti

Addresses: Chemical Engineering Department, School of Chemical Engineering,.National Technical University of Athens, Division IV, 9, Heroon Polytechniou St., Zografou 15770, Greece. ' Institute of Technology of Agricultural Product, National Agricultural Research Foundation, 1, S. Venizelou St., Lycovrissi 14123, Greece. ' Chemical Engineering Department, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Division IV, 9, Heroon Polytechniou St., Zografou 15770, Greece. ' Chemical Engineering Department, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Division IV, 9, Heroon Polytechniou St., Zografou 15770, Greece

Abstract: Organophosphoric pesticides are widely used for crop and fruit tree treatment, but their disposal causes serious environmental problems. Two commercial organophosphoric pesticides (Monocrotophos and Phosphamidon) were treated by an electrolysis system using Ti/Pt as anode and stainless steel 304 as cathode. A number of experiments were run in a laboratory scale pilot plant and the results are presented. For Monocrotophos, the achieved reduction was over 28%, while for Phosphamidon it was nearly 26%. Phosphamidon had a higher energy demand than Monocrotophos. The COD/BOD5 ratio was improved considerably after electrolysis for both pesticides examined. Therefore, electrochemical oxidation could be used as a pretreatment method for their detoxification.

Keywords: electrochemical oxidation; organophosphoric pesticides; monocrotophos; phosphamidon; pesticide dispersal; pesticide detoxification; pretreatment; pollution prevention.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2005.006868

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2005 Vol.23 No.3, pp.289 - 299

Published online: 19 Apr 2005 *

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