Monitoring the Electrochemical Breakdown of Acetamiprid by Differential Pulse Polarography

Abstract

This study investigates the electrochemical mineralization of the neonicotinoid insecticide acetamiprid in aqueous environments using indirect electro-oxidation. Differential pulse polarography (DPP) with a dropping mercury electrode was used to characterize the electroanalytical behavior of acetamiprid, showing optimal reduction at pH 2.2 with a peak potential of -1.064 V. The DPP method demonstrated a linear detection range of 1.0–16.0 μg mL⁻¹ with an LOD of 0.940 μg mL⁻¹. Electrochemical degradation experiments were conducted in NH₄Cl electrolyte using platinum electrodes at current densities ranging from 50 to 200 mA. Mineralization efficiency increased with current density and initial insecticide concentration, reaching up to 96.40%. The degradation followed first-order kinetics, and electrical energy consumption was evaluated. The study highlights the significant influence of current density and electrolyte concentration on degradation rates, confirming the efficacy of indirect electrochemical oxidation for pesticide removal. These findings contribute to optimizing reactor conditions for efficient aquatic pollutant remediation.