Catalytic hydrolysis for the degradation of organophosphorus pesticides in water

The kinetic studies of catalytic hydrolysis revealed that the concentration of two kinds of organophosphorus pesticides (omethoate and methidathion) in solution apparently decays according to the second order reaction. It was found that the rate constant value was highest at strong acidic conditions and it continued to decrease as the pH of the solution was increased. At basic conditions the rate constant value decreased to minimum. Manganese dioxide under acidic conditions converted into Mn/sup 2+/ ions and then these ions in water form hexaaquomanganese (II) ion. This hexaaquomanganese (II ion then adsorbed itself on the S or O atom of the organophosphorus compound and thus weakens the bond between P-S. This reaction facilitated the attack of H/sub 2/O or OH/sup -/ ion and thus enhanced the efficiency of hydrolysis. It was studied that methidathion hydrolyzed more efficiently than omethoate The rate constants of catalytic hydrolysis were increased with increasing the amount of MnO/sub 2/. It was found that the pesticides had undergone adsorption on catalyst in the first few minutes and there was the rapid drop of total phosphorus concentration. The decrease of total phosphorus adsorption with increasing pH was also observed. After the addition of alkaline earth metal cations (Ca/sup 2+/ and Mg/sup 2+/) along with magnesium, the enhancement in the efficiency of hydrolysis at near neutral conditions occurred. (author)