Organophosphorus pesticides decontamination

SFE. SFE has been established as the extraction method of choice for solid samples. The usefulness of SFE for soil samples has been demonstrated for carbamate,organophosphorus and organochlorine pesticides. However, SFE is more effective in extracting nonpolar than polar residues. In order to obtain a greater extraction efficiency for the polar residues of imidacloprid, the addition of 20% methanol as modifier is required. Extraction at 276 bar and 80 °C with a solvent consisting of supercritical carbon dioxide modified with methanol (5%) for 40 min gives a recovery of 97% (RSD = 3.6%, n = 10). It is possible to use process-scale SFE to decontaminate pesticide residues from dust waste. ... 

A second strategy that might prove useful for decontaminating pesticide wastes in soil has been the addition of hydrolytic enzymes derived from microorganisms (12,22). Organophosphorus insecticides such as parathion and diazinon are most susceptible to decontamination by enzymes. Some success has been realized with immobilization of degradative enzymes on inert surfaces through which wastewater is passed and detoxified. 

Zheng YZ, Lan WS, Qiao CL, Mulchandani A, Chen W (2007) Decontamination of vegetables sprayed with organophosphate pesticides by organophosphorus hydrolase and carboxylesterase (Bl). Appl Biochem Biotechnol 136 233-241... 

---