Development of nanostructured devices for detection and removal of pesticides in environmental samples

• Grant number: 24/18518-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: October 01, 2025
• End date: September 30, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Adriana Pavinatto da Costa
• Grantee: Adriana Pavinatto da Costa
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: Piracicaba
• Associated researchers: Daniel Souza Corrêa ; Luiza Amim Mercante ; Rafaela Cristina Sanfelice

Abstract

The contamination of surface waters by emerging substances, such as pesticides, is one of today's main environmental and health problems. Despite the growing number of research on the subject, there is currently a consensus on the importance of intensifying research mainly related to the development of methodologies to identify, quantify and remove these substances in environmental samples, which remains without an effective solution. In this context, the present proposal aims to produce, characterize and use electrochemical sensors for detection/monitoring and adsorbent membranes for removing pesticides in standard and real samples. To achieve this, the devices will be developed based on the production and characterization of electrospun nanofibers (NFs). These NFs will be composed of polymer blends and two platforms will be tested, consisting of poly(lactic acid) and chitosan (PLA/chitosan) and polycaprolactone and chitosan (PCL/chitosan). After the formation of the NFs, they will be functionalized through the incorporation (adsorption) of reduced graphene oxide, gold nanoparticles or metallic oxides, aiming to improve the system's efficiency in electrochemical detection. The platforms will be used to detect the pesticides glyphosate and atrazine, which will be carried out using electrochemical techniques. Pesticide's removal tests will be carried out through adsorption experiments and removal will be monitored by high-performance liquid chromatography with a UV-Vis detector (HPLC/UV) and UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy. The formation of a multifunctional device, capable of acting in both the detection and removal of emerging pollutants (in a non-concomitant way), is a desirable aspect of the study. Furthermore, we intend to evaluate its efficiency in detecting and removing analytes in standard and real samples, expanding its applicability in different environmental conditions. It is expected that this project will contribute to a viable solution to the problem addressed. Furthermore, the proposal aims to begin the proponent's research activities at the "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture at USP, where she was recently hired as a PhD professor in the Department of Exact Sciences. (AU)