land and foliar application. The presence of pesticide residues produces harmful
effect on environment and organisms present in the water and land ecosystems.
Exposure of these chemicals for long period produces various health effects in
humans.
Pesticides have been removed from the environment using various technologies.
Some of the techniques found effective in getting high removal of pesticides mainly
include physico-chemical treatment processes, surface adsorption, membrane filtration, and biological degradation (include bioremediation, phytoremediation processes). These techniques have been found effective in removing pesticides but
sometimes show slow response, less specificity, less sensitivity, and release of
many by-products. Nanotechnology that utilizes the nanoscale materials for removal
of contaminants has emerged as a good alternate in the last few years (Guerra et al.
2018). Enhanced reactivity, high surface-to-volume ratio, unique physical
properties, ideal size (small size ranging from 1 nm to 100 nm), magnetism make
nanomaterials as ideal materials that prove useful in removing contaminants from the
environment effectively (Rani et al. 2017). The functional groups present on the
nanomaterials (surface chemistry) help in targeting specific pollutants to achieve
efficient remediation (Joo and Cheng 2006; Patil 2016). Studies conducted by
several workers established the role of nanoparticles in remediation/treatment of
various inorganic or organic environmental pollutants (Yunus et al. 2012; Das et al.
2018).
The role of nanotechnology in removing pesticides from various components of
the environment has been proved. Use of nanoparticles for sensing and remediation
of organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticides has been established (Uma
Shanker and Jassal 2017; Firozjaee et al. 2018; Rawtani et al. 2018). Titanium
oxide (TiO 2 ) and monovalent iron are the nanoparticles found to act as excellent
adsorbents and efficient photocatalysts that can degrade organochlorine compounds
as well as their toxic metabolites. The present chapter provides detailed information
about recent advances in field of nanotechnology and use of nanomaterials in
remediation of pesticides.
8.2
Removal of Pesticides Using Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology that involves the use of nanomaterials, nanoparticles,
nanomembranes, and nanopowders has proved efficient in detection, monitoring,
and remediation of contaminants (Rajan 2011; Aragay et al. 2012). Nanoparticles
possess high capacity to treat contaminants because they possess ability to (1) transform various types of environmental contaminants, (2) assist in in situ and ex situ
remediation of contaminants, (3) show rapid mobility and high reactivity (Tosco
et al. 2014). The functional groups present on nanomaterials facilitate the removal of
pesticides. Nanoparticles have shown potential to remove chlorinated compounds,
hydrocarbons, and organic compounds. High removal of broad range of pesticides
by nanomaterials occurs because of their high adsorption capacity, faster kinetics,
high surface area, and larger number of surface reaction sites. Research studies have
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B. Dhir
effect on environment and organisms present in the water and land ecosystems.
Exposure of these chemicals for long period produces various health effects in
humans.
Pesticides have been removed from the environment using various technologies.
Some of the techniques found effective in getting high removal of pesticides mainly
include physico-chemical treatment processes, surface adsorption, membrane filtration, and biological degradation (include bioremediation, phytoremediation processes). These techniques have been found effective in removing pesticides but
sometimes show slow response, less specificity, less sensitivity, and release of
many by-products. Nanotechnology that utilizes the nanoscale materials for removal
of contaminants has emerged as a good alternate in the last few years (Guerra et al.
2018). Enhanced reactivity, high surface-to-volume ratio, unique physical
properties, ideal size (small size ranging from 1 nm to 100 nm), magnetism make
nanomaterials as ideal materials that prove useful in removing contaminants from the
environment effectively (Rani et al. 2017). The functional groups present on the
nanomaterials (surface chemistry) help in targeting specific pollutants to achieve
efficient remediation (Joo and Cheng 2006; Patil 2016). Studies conducted by
several workers established the role of nanoparticles in remediation/treatment of
various inorganic or organic environmental pollutants (Yunus et al. 2012; Das et al.
2018).
The role of nanotechnology in removing pesticides from various components of
the environment has been proved. Use of nanoparticles for sensing and remediation
of organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticides has been established (Uma
Shanker and Jassal 2017; Firozjaee et al. 2018; Rawtani et al. 2018). Titanium
oxide (TiO 2 ) and monovalent iron are the nanoparticles found to act as excellent
adsorbents and efficient photocatalysts that can degrade organochlorine compounds
as well as their toxic metabolites. The present chapter provides detailed information
about recent advances in field of nanotechnology and use of nanomaterials in
remediation of pesticides.
8.2
Removal of Pesticides Using Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology that involves the use of nanomaterials, nanoparticles,
nanomembranes, and nanopowders has proved efficient in detection, monitoring,
and remediation of contaminants (Rajan 2011; Aragay et al. 2012). Nanoparticles
possess high capacity to treat contaminants because they possess ability to (1) transform various types of environmental contaminants, (2) assist in in situ and ex situ
remediation of contaminants, (3) show rapid mobility and high reactivity (Tosco
et al. 2014). The functional groups present on nanomaterials facilitate the removal of
pesticides. Nanoparticles have shown potential to remove chlorinated compounds,
hydrocarbons, and organic compounds. High removal of broad range of pesticides
by nanomaterials occurs because of their high adsorption capacity, faster kinetics,
high surface area, and larger number of surface reaction sites. Research studies have
194
B. Dhir