Removal of Chemical Pesticides from Water Using Hydrophobic Deep Eutectic Solvents
Disciplines
Analytical Chemistry | Environmental Chemistry
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Chemical pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, etc. have been used for decades throughout the agricultural industry. These pesticides are frequently used by farms belonging to large corporations and having a high demand for products leads to an increase in pesticides usage. Most pesticides contain hydrocarbon bonds which contribute to their hydrophobic characteristics which increases the probability for them to end up in local water supplies due to run-off. This can damage neighboring ecological systems and disrupt a community’s drinking water. However, regardless of the hydrophobic tendencies of most pesticides, they still are slightly soluble in water, which makes them difficult to remove. Past procedures have been used but tend to be more expensive, tedious, and the materials used are not easy to dispose of. Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) and Hydrophobic Deep Eutectic Solvents (HDESs) have been studied over recent years as a more cost effective and green alternative to extracting a multitude of synthetic compounds. The goal of this study is to analyze multiple DESs in their efficiency to remove different pesticides from a water sample using Direct Analysis in Real Time Mass Spectroscopy (DART-MS) as a more time effective method. In preparation, eight HDESs involving different combinations of Menthol, Camphor, Thymol, Octanoic Acid, and Lactic Acid were synthesized by stirring two components with or without heat for one hour. The solutions for the pesticides Dodin and Metolachlor were prepared in HPLC water and, for extraction, were combined with the HDES in 1:2 ratios (w/w). The HDES:pesticide solutions were then centrifuged for one hour at 10,000 rpm in order to form a distinguished bilayer with the HDES being the top layer and the aqueous layer as the bottom layer. A small sample was collected from the aqueous layer and analyzed using the DART-MS in order to determine the amount of pesticide extracted by the HDES layer. Calibration of the pesticides was constructed using the DART-MS with serial dilutions ranging from 6 ppm to 200 ppm. Initial results displayed the menthol:octanoic acid HDES to be the most efficient in extracting both pesticides from water. The HDESs containing thymol, camphor, and lactic acid had varying results between the two pesticides and will be further tested.
Use of AI Disclaimer
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Academic department under which the project should be listed
CSM – Chemistry and Biochemistry
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Mohammad Halim
Removal of Chemical Pesticides from Water Using Hydrophobic Deep Eutectic Solvents
Chemical pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, etc. have been used for decades throughout the agricultural industry. These pesticides are frequently used by farms belonging to large corporations and having a high demand for products leads to an increase in pesticides usage. Most pesticides contain hydrocarbon bonds which contribute to their hydrophobic characteristics which increases the probability for them to end up in local water supplies due to run-off. This can damage neighboring ecological systems and disrupt a community’s drinking water. However, regardless of the hydrophobic tendencies of most pesticides, they still are slightly soluble in water, which makes them difficult to remove. Past procedures have been used but tend to be more expensive, tedious, and the materials used are not easy to dispose of. Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) and Hydrophobic Deep Eutectic Solvents (HDESs) have been studied over recent years as a more cost effective and green alternative to extracting a multitude of synthetic compounds. The goal of this study is to analyze multiple DESs in their efficiency to remove different pesticides from a water sample using Direct Analysis in Real Time Mass Spectroscopy (DART-MS) as a more time effective method. In preparation, eight HDESs involving different combinations of Menthol, Camphor, Thymol, Octanoic Acid, and Lactic Acid were synthesized by stirring two components with or without heat for one hour. The solutions for the pesticides Dodin and Metolachlor were prepared in HPLC water and, for extraction, were combined with the HDES in 1:2 ratios (w/w). The HDES:pesticide solutions were then centrifuged for one hour at 10,000 rpm in order to form a distinguished bilayer with the HDES being the top layer and the aqueous layer as the bottom layer. A small sample was collected from the aqueous layer and analyzed using the DART-MS in order to determine the amount of pesticide extracted by the HDES layer. Calibration of the pesticides was constructed using the DART-MS with serial dilutions ranging from 6 ppm to 200 ppm. Initial results displayed the menthol:octanoic acid HDES to be the most efficient in extracting both pesticides from water. The HDESs containing thymol, camphor, and lactic acid had varying results between the two pesticides and will be further tested.