Cleaning and Management of Water Contaminated with Pesticides through the Process of Adsorption in the Natural Clay of Brari

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the potential for widespread application of clay in the purification of water pol luted with pesticides and water management through the absorption and desorption of dimethoate and methomyl in the natural clay of Brari (Tirana). While the maximum adsorption of methomyl on Brari clay was reached in 12 hours, the maximum adsorption of dimethoate on Brari clay was reached in 48 hours. To compare the adsorption of methomyl and dimethoate on Brari clay, their water degradation time was also taken into account. Dimethoate dissolves quickly; a contact period of 1–2 hours is sufficient to desorb 81.2% of the material. Dimethoate dissolves in water at 25 °C and has a half-life t1/2 = 30 days. Methomyl is desorbed even faster; in just two hours, 96.2% of the material is desorbed. At 25 °C, dimethoate has a half-life of t1/2 = 14 days and a high solubility of 58 g/L in water. Because methomyl and dimethoate bind poorly to clay, they can contaminate surface and groundwater.