Photocatalytic degradation of methomyl for amelioration of the agricultural environment. | |
| Author | Sasiwong Akkisopa. |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.AS-07-17 |
| Subject(s) | Methomyl Pesticides--Environmental aspects |
| Note | A thesis submitted in pa1tial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Agricultural Systems & Engineering, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. AS-07-17 |
| Abstract | Pesticides have become a main input in protecting crops from various kinds of pests and diseases, as some of the pesticides were later recognized to be of persistence thus polluting the environment and causing health problems. Therefore, the approach of photocatalytic degradation using titanium dioxide (Ti0₂) was tested to determine its potential to degrade methomyl, a commonly used highly toxic insecticide in agriculture. This study was conducted during November 2006 to April 2007 in the Agricultural Technology Laboratory at the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand. Five concentrations of methomyl (10 to 50 mM at 10 mM concentrations) were tested with and without Ti0₂ under both artificial and sunlight at varying time durations up to 12 hours, and methomyl concentrations were determined using spectrophotometry, organic carbon estimation and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Ti0₂ showed its capacity to change pesticide concentration, which had changed spectral absorbance of all methomyl concentrations. The degradation occurred under both artificial light as well as sunlight; the latter was faster than the former. The absorbance values fluctuated over time. HPLC also showed reduction of pesticide content in the methomyl + Ti0₂ mixture. However, variations in the values also observed.The degradation of methomyl was observed even after five minutes when exposed to both artificial and sunlight conditions, although it was faster under solar radiation. The concentration measurements by HPLC too confirmed this. However, there appears to be some inconsistencies in the absorbance results. Despite all these, it appears worth further testing potential photocatalytic nanoparticles for degradation of pesticides |
| Year | 2007 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. AS-07-17 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (Former title: Department of Food Agriculture, and BioResources (DFAB)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Agricultural and Aquatic Systems(AS) |
| Chairperson(s) | Ranamukhaarachchi, S. L.; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Dutta, Joydeep;Shipin, Oleg; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | -; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2007 |