Removal of Metaldehyde from Water Using a Novel Coupled Adsorption and Electrochemical Destruction Technique

Water

Mohammed A. Nabeerasool²  Andrew K. Campen¹  David A. Polya²  Nigel W. Brown¹  Bart E. van Dongen² 

[1] Arvia Technology Ltd., The Innovation Centre, Sci-Tech Daresbury, Keckwick Lane, Cheshire WA4 4FS, UK; E-Mails:;School of Earth Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK; E-Mails:

关键词: adsorption;    electrochemical regeneration;    metaldehyde;    pesticide;   

DOI  :  10.3390/w7063057

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Metaldehyde is a selective pesticide applied to control snails and slugs and which, particularly when application rates are high and during periods of high rainfall, may find its way into water courses, some of which may be used as drinking water supplies. Existing water treatment processes have been inadequate for reducing metaldehyde residual levels (up to 8 µg/L) found in some waters to below the EU/UK statutory limit of 0.1 µg/L. Here a novel coupled adsorption and electrochemical regeneration technology is tested to determine if it is capable of effectively removing metaldehyde. We demonstrate that metaldehyde is not only adsorbed on the adsorbent used but is also destroyed during the regeneration stage, resulting in residual metaldehyde concentrations below the EU/UK regulatory limit for drinking water. No known harmful breakdown by-products were observed to be generated by the process. The effectiveness of the process seems unaffected by organic-rich peat water, indicating the potential for the treatment of drinking water much of which in the UK is derived from upland peaty catchments. Furthermore, successive spiking experiments showed that this technology has the potential to be applied as a continuous process without the generation of substantial waste products.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.