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Fate, eco-toxicological characteristics, and treatment processes applied to water polluted with glyphosate: A critical review

Abstract:

Glyphosate is the most widely used active ingbkp_redient of Glyphosate Based Herbicides (GBHs), and which has environmental mobility towards water by its physicochemical characteristics. These properties determine its low availability in living organisms (log K ow < 0), which is increased by the presence of co-adjuvant activators in GBHs and its biodegradation (metabolites). Eco-toxicological studies have determined that glyphosate affects to several aquatic trophic-levels (freshwater/marine environments), being more toxics GBHs. Therefore, its potential environmental risk has promoted the development of conventional (biological and physicochemical) and non-conventional (Advanced-Oxidation-Processes or AOPs, combined processes) treatment strategies. Biological processes will generate incomplete degradation (metabolites generation), and variable removal efficiencies (25–99%). Physicochemical processes will be efficient (approx. 90%) but transferring the glyphosate from water to the adsorbent material (dangerous waste generation). Currently, AOPs will arise as a rapid (minutes) and effective alternative for glyphosate removal (>90%), depending on operational conditions, and without generation of intermediate metabolites. Moreover, new strategies (electrochemical) will avoid the hazardous waste production. Other combined processes (biological + physicochemical) will also reach glyphosate efficiencies removal above 90% but needing large spaces. However, their physical characteristics would make them feasible to be applied in agricultural areas.