Effect of electronic beam irradiation on the degradation of acephate

In order to investigate the degradation of acephate by irradiation. Parameters affecting the electron beam degradation process of acephate solution and added acephate in corn grit were analyzed through single factor experiments with irradiation dose, initial concentration, pH, KMnO₄ dosage considered. The results showed that the degradation rate of acephate went up with the increase of irradiation dose, decreased with the increase of the initial concentration of acephate at the same irradiation dose, and reached the maximum when the dose increased to 9 kGy. The degradation rates of acephate with initial concentrations of 25, 50, 100, and 150 mg · L^-1 were 95.76%, 94.32%, 90.40%, and 65.60%, respectively, whereas the degradation rate in corn grit was 44.05%. In addition, when the pH value of the solution was neutral, the irradiation degradation effect of acephate was better than that at acidity. There was a significant effect of KMnO₄ on the irradiation degradation rate of acephate solution. When the concentration of KMnO₄ was 8 × 10^-4 mol · L^-1, the degradation rate of 100 mg · L^-1 acephate was 94.10% after 7 kGy dose irradiation. In this study, the results could provide a scientific basis in the degradation of organophosphorus pesticides by electron beam irradiation. (authors)