Photocatalytic ozonation of deltamethrin: A 3D response surface methodology approach

Abstract

Deltamethrin is a persistent, toxic, and synthetic pyrethroid widely used in agriculture. Its environmental persistence leads to significant ecological consequences, necessitating effective removal strategies. While various Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) — such as UV / H2O2, ozone-based methods, and photo-Fenton processes-are used to manage deltamethrin concentrations, photocatalytic ozonation has gained prominence. By combining a photocatalyst with ozone, this method achieves a higher degradation rate through the enhanced generation of reactive species. This study focuses on the degradation of deltamethrin via photocatalytic ozonation using a TiO2/WO3 composite photocatalyst prepared via the sol-gel method. To optimize the process, the research investigates several key variables, such as: pH, catalyst amount, and initial deltamethrin concentration. The interaction between these variables and their impact on the degradation rate was investigated using 3D Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The results demonstrate that photocatalytic ozonation is a viable method for the degradation of deltamethrin, achieving a 26% degradation rate within one hour of reaction time. Despite the potential of this process, further research should focus on three key areas: developing more efficient heterogeneous catalysts, improving catalyst recyclability, and addressing the technical challenges of scaling photocatalytic ozonation for industrial applications.