Chlorpyrifos removal: Nb/boron-doped diamond anode coupled with solid polymer electrolyte and ultrasound irradiation

Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphorus insecticide, acaricide and miticide used worldwide for the control of soil-borne insect pests. It must be considered as a substance of growing concern, given its use, toxicity, environmental occurrence, and potential for regional to long-range atmospheric transport. Considering the incomplete removal attained by conventional water treatment processes, we investigated the efficiency of electrolytic radicals production and sonoelectrolysis on the degradation of the pesticide. The treatment has been conducted in a novel electrochemical reactor, equipped with a boron-doped diamond anode and a solid polymer electrolyte (SPE). Different current intensity and times have been tested and coupled with sonication at 40 kHz. Up to 69% of chlorpyrifos was completely removed in 10 min by electrolysis operated at 0.1 mA, while 12.5% and 5.4% was converted into the treatment intermediates 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCP) and diethyl (3,5,6-trichloropyridin-2-yl) phosphate, respectively. Ultrasound irradiation did not enhance the removal efficiency, likely due to mass transport limitations, while the energy consumption increased from 8.68∙10(− 6) to 9.34∙10(− 4) kWh µg(− 1) removed. Further research is encouraged, given the promising processing by the SPE technology of low conductivity solutions, as pharmaceuticals streams, as well as the potential for water and in-situ groundwater remediation from different emerging pollutants as phytosanitary and personal care products.