An unprecedented rise in neonicotinoid pesticides, such as imidacloprid (IMI) and acetamiprid (ACE), has created an urgent need for new water purification methods. Neonicotinoids, known for their ability to combat agricultural pests, pose significant environmental and health risks due to their persistence in aquatic ecosystems. A recent study published in RSC Advances by authors Ajibola A. Bayode, Stephen Sunday Emmanuel, Hamza Badamasi, Saheed O. Sanni, Odunayo T. Ore, Adewumi Oluwasogo Dada, Obianuju Patience Ilog, and Ademidun Adeola Adesibikan, introduces a highly effective, low-cost solution: a new adsorbent derived from modified plantain peels. This innovative material, called Cu/MPBC/rGO, leverages copper oxide and reduced graphene oxide to create a powerful, sustainable tool for environmental remediation.

The research highlights the limitations of traditional water treatment methods, which are not designed to remove these persistent contaminants. While other methods like chemical oxidation and biodegradation exist, they often come with high operational costs and low effectiveness. The study demonstrates that a modified biocharBiochar is a carbon-rich material created from biomass decomposition in low-oxygen conditions. It has important applications in environmental remediation, soil improvement, agriculture, carbon sequestration, energy storage, and sustainable materials, promoting efficiency and reducing waste in various contexts while addressing climate change challenges. More adsorbent, created by repurposing the often-discarded Musa paradisiaca (plantain) peel, offers a sustainable and cost-effective alternative. By modifying the biochar with copper oxide and reduced graphene oxide, the researchers were able to significantly boost its adsorption capabilities, making it a powerful tool for cleaning up contaminated water.

The study’s most compelling finding is the remarkable effectiveness of the new composite adsorbent. When tested on water contaminated with imidacloprid (IMI) and acetamiprid (ACE), the modified biochar composite, Cu/MPBC/rGO, achieved removal efficiencies of 96.71% and 97.41%, respectively. This represents a “tremendous improvement” over the individual components, proving the synergistic effect of combining plantain peel biochar, copper oxide, and reduced graphene oxide. For context, the unmodified plantain peel biochar (MPBC) alone could only remove 14.66% of ACE and 15.99% of IMI. Similarly, copper oxide (CuO) removed only 31.43% of ACE and 28.91% of IMI, while reduced graphene oxide (rGO) removed 42.62% and 40.09%. The combination of these materials enhances the surface area and creates active sites for the neonicotinoids to bind to, leading to the exceptional results.

Beyond its high removal efficiency, the study also provided crucial quantitative insights into the material’s capacity and durability. The new adsorbent demonstrated a high adsorption capacity of 62.19 mg of IMI per gram of adsorbent and 32.78 mg of ACE per gram of adsorbent. This suggests the material has a strong ability to hold a large amount of the pesticides. Furthermore, the researchers found that the material could be reused over multiple cycles without significant loss of efficiency. This is a critical finding because it indicates the potential for a long-lasting, sustainable, and economically viable water treatment solution. The study also suggests that the adsorption process involves a combination of mechanisms, including both physical attraction and chemical bonding, which explains its high efficiency.

The research successfully demonstrates that a novel composite, synthesized from plantain peels, copper oxide, and reduced graphene oxide, is a highly effective and sustainable adsorbent for removing two major neonicotinoid pesticides from water. This breakthrough offers a promising, eco-friendly solution to a critical environmental problem, turning agricultural waste into a valuable resource for clean water. The results provide a strong foundation for future research into scaling up this technology for widespread use.

Source: Bayode, A. A., Emmanuel, S. S., Badamasi, H., Sanni, S. O., Ore, O. T., Dada, A. O., Ilog, O. P., & Adesibikan, A. A. (2025). Efficient removal of selected neonicotinoids from single and combined systems using CuO/rGO modified musa parasidiaca biochar: insight into cost analysis. RSC Advances, 15(34833), 34833-34845.