Zn and Cd assisted photo-catalytic degradation of chlorpyrifos in soil.

The Cd and Zn assisted photo-catalytic degradation of soil incorporated chlorpyrifos (CLP) was reported in current study. The soil samples fortified with CLP and metals were irradiated in photo-reactor for different time intervals to check maximum degradation. Soil samples extracted with acetonitrile were analyzed by HPLC. The results of the study revealed a complete mineralization of insecticide from soil that followed first-order Langmuir-Hinshelwood (L-H) kinetic model. The CLP degradation rate in soil was higher in photoreactor than control with variation in half-life from 41 days to 20 days. The degradation of CLP in photoreactor was 5 fold augmented after Zn fortification of soil while Cd had negligible effect on CLP photodegradation. Thus Zn fortification of soil will not only replenish the important nutrient for plant growth but will also help in alleviating the harmful effects of CLP on soil flora and fauna by enhancing its rate of photodegradation.