Innovative approaches to adsorptive detoxification of pesticides in aquatic environments: a comprehensive review

Pesticides are considered to be harmful substances for human beings and aquatic life. Among the pesticide detoxification strategies, such as adsorption, bio-adsorption, bioaccumulation, biodegradation, chemical and electrochemical precipitation, nano-remediation, oxidation, and solar-driven photocatalysis, adsorption is considered a highly efficient and cost-effective strategy. This review covers the recent advancement in pesticide removal through various adsorbent materials and their mechanism. The literature from 2019-2023 was accessed through Google Scholar using keywords and evaluated. Among various adsorbents, natural materials, metal-organic frameworks, metal oxides, and mixed metal oxides were found to receive immense attention among researchers. Furthermore, the development and use of novel adsorbents, such as bio-based composites, functionalized nanomaterials, and hybrid systems, are gaining recognition for their superior performance in pesticide removal. These properties of the materials, removal efficiencies, and adsorption mechanisms of adsorbents were also discussed, which could guide and support the development of efficient adsorbents for pesticide detoxification in aquatic systems.