Solar reclamation of agro-wastewater polluted with eight pesticides by heterogeneous photocatalysis using a modular facility. A case study

In this work, we have studied the removal of eight pesticides, commonly used in fruit crops, in agro-wastewater generated in commercial farms by the cleaning of trace of phytosanitary products in containers and tanks from treatment equipment. The studied pesticides were acetamiprid, cyproconazole, cyprodinil, difenoconazole, fenhexamid, hexythiazox, myclobutanil and thiamethoxam. The trials were performed in a pilot facility located in Murcia (SE of Spain), using natural sunlight and titanium dioxide (TiO2) in tandem with Na2S2O8. Five photocatalytic treatments were carried out during autumn 2017. Results show that the mean (n = 5) final amount was about 13% of the initial pesticide mass present in agro-wastewater. Therefore, we have proved that this technology could be used for tackling the elimination of pesticide residues in agro-wastewater and has favourable prospects of being applied in the water treatment sector. [Display omitted] •Removal of 8 pesticides in agrowaste water (AW) was studied under natural sunlight.•AW were produced in a farm from the washing of phytosanitary treatment equipment.•The trials were performed in a pilot facility located in Murcia (SE of Spain).•Five photocatalytic treatments were carried out using TiO2/Na2S2O8.•After solar treatment the final amount was about 13% of the initial treated amount.