Review the Applications of Nanotechnology in the remediation of herbicides and pesticides residue in the environment

The contamination of water and soil resources by pesticides is an important environmental problem of the world. There are numerous variety of nanomaterials used for environmental detoxification, including nanometals, nanooxides, nanoclays and dendrimers. Numerous studies have pointed to the degradation of pesticides by using nano-particles (zero- valent iron, and nano-TiO2 nanoparticles,). Today the use of TiO for photocatalytic degradation of pesticides is taken into consideration, since it operates in ambient temperature and pressure with low energy photons, requires no chemical reagents except oxygen in the ambient air and no expensive catalysts. The degradation of pesticides on Titanium dioxide (TiO) initiated by attraction of peroxide or hydroxyl radical and electron transfer. Due to the low cost and easy production, zero- valent iron (ZVI) is an industrially feasible remediation methodology. There is evidence to suggest possible risks. Most nanoparticles are not biodegradable and expected to accumulate in organisms and especially at higher levels in the food chain. Materials in nanoscale show unusual physical, chemical, and biological properties which may be different from those in bulk materials. Therefore the nanotechnology should be promoted in a responsible and safe manner.