New Techniques for Extraction and Removal of Pesticide Residues

A special issue of Separations (ISSN 2297-8739). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Separations".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 3411

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
College of Plant Science and Technology, Department of Plant Protection, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
Interests: adsorbents; nanomaterials; extraction and removal of pesticide residue; food quality and safety

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

During the last decade, the pervasive contamination of pesticides in agricultural ecosystems and food supply chains poses escalating threats to environmental integrity and public health. Conventional methods for pesticide residue analysis frequently encounter limitations in sensitivity, selectivity, and efficiency, particularly when addressing complex matrices or emerging contaminants. To mitigate these challenges, the development of advanced extraction and removal technologies has become imperative.

These innovations aim to enhance detection accuracy, reduce processing time, and minimize secondary pollution while complying with global regulatory standards.

This Special Issue focuses on disseminating cutting-edge research in pesticide residue analysis, emphasizing novel methodologies, such as nano-material-based sorbents, green solvent systems, molecularly imprinted polymers, and hybrid purification platforms.

The topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Advanced Extraction Technologies
  • Nanomaterial-Based Sorbents: Development of functionalized nanomaterials for selective adsorption of pesticide residues, improving extraction efficiency, and reducing matrix interference.
  • Green Solvent Systems: Exploration of eco-friendly solvents to replace traditional organic solvents, minimizing environmental pollution and enhancing safety in extraction workflows.
  • Automated and High-Throughput Techniques: Integration of solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and solid-phase extraction (SPE) with automation platforms for rapid, large-scale sample processing, particularly in complex matrices, such as fruits, vegetables, and soil.
  1. Multidisciplinary Analytical Approaches
  • AI-Driven Workflow Optimization: Machine learning models for predicting optimal extraction parameters, reducing trial-and-error experiments, and accelerating method development.
  • Multi-Residue and Trace-Level Detection: Development of hypersensitive detection systems (e.g., LC-MS/MS and GC-MS) coupled with advanced sample preparation to simultaneously quantify ultra-trace pesticides in diverse matrices.
  1. Innovative Purification Strategies
  • Hybrid Purification Platforms: Combining physical (e.g., adsorption and filtration), chemical (e.g., oxidation), and biological (e.g., enzymatic degradation) methods to achieve comprehensive residue removal while preserving sample integrity.
  • Electrochemical and Nanomaterial-Assisted Purification: Utilization of electrochemical reactors or nano-adsorbents (e.g., metal–organic frameworks) for targeted degradation of persistent pesticides, such as organophosphates and chlorinated compounds.

Dr. Zhonghua Yang
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • pesticide multi-residue analysis
  • green extraction
  • smart purification
  • environmental remediation
  • AI-driven optimization

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 1750 KB  
Article
Solid Dispersant-Based Dispersive Liquid–Liquid Microextraction for Determining Triazine Herbicides in Environmental Water Samples
by Bin Hao, Nannan Zhang, Chunli Chen, Yuxi Ji, Zhihui Zhao, Li Wang and Hongqiang Dong
Separations 2026, 13(2), 42; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations13020042 - 24 Jan 2026
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Abstract
An innovative dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction technique utilizing a solid dispersion was established for the quantification of triazine herbicides in environmental water samples. Naturally derived monoterpenoids were utilized as eco-friendly extraction solvents, markedly decreasing the reliance on harmful extraction solvents. A small amount of [...] Read more.
An innovative dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction technique utilizing a solid dispersion was established for the quantification of triazine herbicides in environmental water samples. Naturally derived monoterpenoids were utilized as eco-friendly extraction solvents, markedly decreasing the reliance on harmful extraction solvents. A small amount of Pop Rocks candy served as a solid dispersant; the rapid release of carbon dioxide promoted the generation of fine monoterpenoid droplets, effectively replacing conventional hazardous liquid dispersants. The solidification technique of floating organic droplets facilitated the effective phase separation of monoterpenoids from aqueous samples, thereby obviating the need for centrifugation. Triazine herbicides exhibited good linearity within the concentration range of 0.008–0.8 mg/L with correlation coefficients above 0.99 and detection limits of 0.002 mg/L. The proposed method was effectively implemented on surface and groundwater samples, attaining recoveries between 86.4% and 98.0%. Molecular docking analysis suggests a spontaneous binding between the monoterpenoid and triazine herbicides. A comprehensive green assessment utilizing two evaluation tools confirmed the excellent environmental performance of the method. This technique offers superior greenness and simplicity compared with conventional techniques, demonstrating strong potential for application in the environmental analysis of pesticide residues. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Techniques for Extraction and Removal of Pesticide Residues)
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16 pages, 1616 KB  
Article
Comparison of Extraction Techniques for Wide Screening of 230 Pesticides in Water
by Caterina Cacciatori, Jackie Myers, Giulio Mariani, Hung Vu, Bernd Manfred Gawlik and Vincent Pettigrove
Separations 2025, 12(6), 158; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations12060158 - 9 Jun 2025
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1414
Abstract
In this study, weekly grab samples extracted by solid-phase extraction (SPE) and stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) were compared for the analysis of 230 pesticides in surface waters. Samples were collected from three different locations around Melbourne, Australia. Analysis was performed using Gas [...] Read more.
In this study, weekly grab samples extracted by solid-phase extraction (SPE) and stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) were compared for the analysis of 230 pesticides in surface waters. Samples were collected from three different locations around Melbourne, Australia. Analysis was performed using Gas Chromatography Quadrupole Time of Flight High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (GC-QToF-HRMS). The two extraction techniques were compared, among others, for their limits of detection, recovery, extraction, and quantification efficiency of pesticides, as well as spatial and temporal differences in detected compounds. The target compounds screened were pesticides belonging mainly to the categories of fungicides, insecticides, and herbicides. Although SBSE extracted more pesticides at two out of three sites, SPE extracted total concentrations up to four times higher than SBSE over all sampling sites. The log KOW of detected pesticides only partially explained the differences in detection, with SBSE performing better in the absorption of hydrophobic compounds. In addition, matrix effects, in particular turbidity, appeared to hinder extraction of contaminants, especially for SBSE. Spatially, SBSE detected 10 pesticides more than SPE at two locations, while the opposite was true at the third location, where turbidity was higher. The types of pesticides detected varied slightly between techniques and locations. The study highlights the complementarity of SBSE and SPE for monitoring pesticides in natural environments. SBSE is an easy-to-use technique and allows for extraction of a higher number of pesticides at trace level, but it might not be the preferred option for highly turbid waters. SPE requires more tedious and complex sample processing but allows for a more accurate quantification of a broader range of pesticides. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Techniques for Extraction and Removal of Pesticide Residues)
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Review

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24 pages, 3841 KB  
Review
The Neglected Dimension in Pesticide Residues: Emerging Green and Enantioselective Strategies for the Analysis and Removal of Chiral Pesticides
by Binbin Liu, Ziyan Gong and Haixiang Gao
Separations 2026, 13(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations13010004 - 23 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1009
Abstract
Chirality remains the most neglected axis of pesticide residue science. Many active ingredients are sold as racemates although their enantiomers differ in potency, persistence, transport, and toxicology; as a result, total concentration is a poor surrogate for risk. This review synthesizes green and [...] Read more.
Chirality remains the most neglected axis of pesticide residue science. Many active ingredients are sold as racemates although their enantiomers differ in potency, persistence, transport, and toxicology; as a result, total concentration is a poor surrogate for risk. This review synthesizes green and enantioselective strategies spanning the full analytical–remediation continuum. We survey solvent-minimized sample preparation approaches (SPME/TF-SPME, FPSE, µSPE, DLLME with DES/NADES), MS-compatible chiral separations (immobilized polysaccharide CSPs in LC and SFC, cyclodextrin-based selectors in GC, CE/CEC), and HRMS-enabled confirmation and suspect screening. Complex matrices (e.g., fermented beverages such as wine and high-sugar products) are critically discussed, together with practical matrix-tolerant workflows and the complementary role of chiral GC for hydrophobic residues. We then examine emerging enantioselective materials—MIPs, MOFs/COFs, and cyclodextrin-based sorbents—for extraction and preconcentration and evaluate stereoselective removal via adsorption, biodegradation, and chiral photocatalysis. Finally, we propose toxicity-weighted enantiomeric fraction (EF) metrics for decision-making, outline EF-aware green treatment strategies, and identify metrological and regulatory priorities (CRMs, ring trial protocols, FAIR data). Our thesis is simple: to reduce hazards efficiently and sustainably, laboratories and practitioners must measure—and manage—pesticide residues in the chiral dimension. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Techniques for Extraction and Removal of Pesticide Residues)
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