Journal article
Differences in Neonicotinoid and Metabolite Sorption to Activated Carbon Are Driven by Alterations to the Insecticidal Pharmacophore
Environmental science & technology, Vol.54(22), pp.14694-14705
11/17/2020
DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c04187
PMID: 33119293
Abstract
Widespread application of neonicotinoids has led to their proliferation in waters. Despite low neonicotinoid hydrophobicity, our prior studies implicated granular activated carbon (GAC) in neonicotinoid removal. Based on known receptor binding characteristics, we hypothesized that the insecticidal pharmacophore influences neonicotinoid sorption. Our objectives were to illuminate drivers of neonicotinoid sorption for parent neonicotinoids (imidacloprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam, and thiacloprid) and pharmacophore-altered metabolites (desnitro-imidacloprid and imidacloprid urea) to GAC, powdered activated carbon, and carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Neonicotinoid sorption to GAC was extensive and largely irreversible, with significantly greater sorption of imidacloprid than desnitro-imidacloprid. Imidacloprid and imidacloprid urea (electronegative pharmacophores) sorbed most extensively to nonfunctionalized CNTs, whereas desnitro-imidacloprid (positive pharmacophore) sorbed most to COOH-CNTs, indicating the importance of charge interactions and/or hydrogen bonding between the pharmacophore and carbon surface. Water chemistry parameters (temperature, alkalinity, ionic strength, and humic acid) inhibited overall neonicotinoid sorption, suggesting that pharmacophore-driven sorption in real waters may be diminished. Analysis of a full-scale drinking water treatment plant GAC filter influent, effluent, and spent GAC attributes neonicotinoid/metabolite removal to GAC under real-world conditions for the first time. Our results demonstrate that the neonicotinoid pharmacophore not only confers insecticide selectivity but also impacts sorption behavior, leading to less effective removal of metabolites by GAC filters in water treatment.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Differences in Neonicotinoid and Metabolite Sorption to Activated Carbon Are Driven by Alterations to the Insecticidal Pharmacophore
- Creators
- Danielle T Webb - IIHR-Hydroscience & Engineering, 100 C. Maxwell Stanley Hydraulics Laboratory, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United StatesMatthew R Nagorzanski - IIHR-Hydroscience & Engineering, 100 C. Maxwell Stanley Hydraulics Laboratory, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United StatesMegan M Powers - IIHR-Hydroscience & Engineering, 100 C. Maxwell Stanley Hydraulics Laboratory, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United StatesDavid M Cwiertny - Public Policy Center, University of Iowa, 310 South Grand Ave, 209 South Quadrangle, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United StatesMichelle L Hladik - U.S. Geological Survey, California Water Science Center, 6000 J Street, Placer Hall, Sacramento, California 95819, United StatesGregory H LeFevre - IIHR-Hydroscience & Engineering, 100 C. Maxwell Stanley Hydraulics Laboratory, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Environmental science & technology, Vol.54(22), pp.14694-14705
- Publisher
- United States
- DOI
- 10.1021/acs.est.0c04187
- PMID
- 33119293
- ISSN
- 0013-936X
- eISSN
- 1520-5851
- Grant note
- P30 ES005605 / NIEHS NIH HHS
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 11/17/2020
- Academic Unit
- Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination; Civil and Environmental Engineering; IIHR--Hydroscience and Engineering; Public Policy Center (Archive); Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
- Record Identifier
- 9984077377402771
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