Photochemical processes for removal of carbamate pesticides from water

A large number of pesticide active ingredients have been registered and marketed for pest control purposes around the world. Most pesticides, including carbamates are resistant to chemical and natural photochemical degradation, so that developing adequate methods for remediation of contaminated waters is a priority. There are different methods for removing carbamate pesticide residues from water, and photodegradation methods are discussed in this study. According to literature data, the most beneficial photochemical processes for removal of pesticides from water are two well-known Advanced Oxidation Processes: heterogeneous photocatalysis with semiconductor oxides TiO2 and ZnO, and homogeneous photo-Fenton treatment, as well as direct UV photolysis. Photochemical investigations may contribute toward our better understanding of carbamate pesticide behavior in the environment, i.e. more information on the degradation time of active ingredients, their activity and environmental fate can be obtained by studying the kinetics of any photochemical reaction.