Environmental toxicant Zoxamide sorption, degradation and Punica granatum-based activated carbon-mediated removal from soils

An intricate pesticide study is essential to assess its interaction with soil and environment. Fungicide Zoxamide has been examined for adsorption–desorption and degradation behaviour. Adsorption and desorption behaviour of Zoxamide on soil samples from geographically different regions of Pakistan utilizing batch equilibrium method was assessed. Degradation of Zoxamide was performed by hydrolysis, soil degradation and photodegradation. Degradation samples were extracted with dichloromethane and analysed at regular time intervals. The adsorption distribution coefficient values ranged from 0.9303 to 45.7 µg/mL with R² value lying from 0.84–1. The variable sorption values can be associated with the diverse physicochemical properties. ∆G ranged from – 9.3 to – 11.39 kJ/mol, which indicates weak Van der Waal forces for interaction. Linear and Freundlich models were used for calculating sorption rate of the fungicide. The desorption values increased in following order: S2 < S9 < S6 < S5 < S7 < S3 < S4 < S2 < S8 < S1 < S10. The highest percentage of degradation was observed through hydrolysis (99.7%) and photodegradation (99%). Activated carbon prepared from Punica granatum peel was used for the removal of Zoxamide from soils for environmental remediation. Concentration-dependent studies displayed the concentration of 7.5 mg/L showed highest removal percentage of 96%. Zoxamide displayed an overall varying fate in the environment, which can be attributable to the type and geological nature of soils.