Photocatalytic degradation of a typical neonicotinoid insecticide: nitenpyrum by ZnO nanoparticles under solar irradiation

The photodegradation and mineralization of the nitenpyrum [(E)-N-(6-chloro-3-pyridylmethyl)-N-ethyl-N′-methyl-2-nitrovinylidenediamine], which is one of the most popular neonicotinoid insecticides, were conducted in the presence of ZnO photocatalyst under solar irradiation. An initial nitenpyrum concentration of 10 ppm was completely degraded in the presence of ZnO after 30 min irradiation, while only 70% degradation was observed in the absence of ZnO. The effect of different parameters, for example, amount of ZnO, initial pH, light intensity, reaction temperature, and irradiation time, on the photocatalytic degradation of nitenpyrum was also evaluated. The drop of total organic carbon (TOC) as a consequence of mineralization of nitenpyrum was observed during the photocatalytic process. The kinetics of photocatalytic degradation followed a pseudo-first order law according to Langmuir-Hinshelwood model, and the rate constant is 0.140 min−1. CO2, chloride, and nitrate ions were observed as the end-products after completing degradation of nitenpyrum. The four kinds of intermediate products were identified by GC-MS during the decomposition of nitenpyrum. In order to investigate the degradation pathway of nitenpyrum, the point charge and frontier electron density at each atom on the molecule were determined using molecular orbital (MO) stimulation. The degradation mechanism was proposed, based on the identified intermediates. The solar photocatalytic degradation method can become an effective technique for the treatment of nitenpyrum-polluted water.