Synthesis, characterization of a ternary Cu(II) Schiff base complex with degradation activity of organophosphorus pesticides

Abstract Organophosphorus pesticides are a class of the most important groups of insecticides and are widely applied to pest and plant diseases control in agriculture. The extensive application of organophosphorus pesticides can subsequently release organophosphorus pesticides into environment which may pose a seriously adverse impact to non-target organisms and humans. However, we could not ban organophosphorus pesticides at present as they are very efficient. Therefore, the new technique of degradation of organophosphorus pesticides must be studied. In this paper, a ternary copper Schiff base complex 2Cu(C 14 H 8 NO 3 Cl)(C 12 H 8 N 2 )·3CH 3 OH was synthesized and characterised by physico-chemical and spectroscopic methods. The degraded effects of 4 pesticides by the complex were investigated. The results showed that the degraded rates of every organophosphorus pesticide were increased. However, the effects of degradation were varied because of the different molecule structures of organophosphorus pesticides. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and ion chromatography were used to analyze the degradation products by the complex, and then the catalytic mechanism of degradation was proposed. The study results suggest that the Schiff base copper complex, as a potent catalyzer, may find its applications in catalytic degradation area.