Photocatalytic degradation of four organophosphorus pesticides in aqueous solution using D-cys/Au NPs modified TiO2 by natural sunlight

The widespread use of organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) in foods, poses a serious threat to human and environmental health, it is crucial to develop methods that can efficiently degrade residual OPPs. Herein, a chiral TiO2 photocatalyst was developed by modification TiO2 with D-cys/Au NPs (DAT) for the simultaneous degradation of four OPPs (chlorpyrifos, chlorpyrifos-methyl, malathion, and parathion) by natural light. The influence of D-Au NPs concentration on the degradation process was optimized, along with the initial pesticide concentration. Under optimal conditions, the photocatalytic degradation efficiencies of DAT for four OPPs were 96.7 %, 56.9 %, 42.6 %, and 49.2 %, respectively, after 12 h of natural light exposure. 12 degradation products of OPPs were identified, among which three products were identified for the first time. The degradation pathway revealed that the degradation of OPPs by DAT involves the oxidation of the P═S bond and the cleavage of the P-O bond and C-O bond. This study establishes a theoretical foundation for applying chiral TiO2 nanomaterials for the photocatalytic degradation of OPPs in foods.