Micro and nanobubbles enhanced ozonation technology: A synergistic approach for pesticides removal

Pesticides production, consumption, and disposal around the world are raising concerns day by day for their human and environmental health impacts. Among developing treatment technologies, ozonation has attracted the attention of many researchers in recent years. It is an emerging and promising technology for removing pesticides in the aqueous environment and degrading the residual pesticides from the fruits and vegetables (F&V) surfaces. This systematic review presents an extensive study of the degradation of different types of residual pesticides from F&V using ozonation, micro- and nanobubble (MNB) ozonation, or other advanced techniques such as microwaves/ultrasonication and advanced oxidation process. This review compiles the studies that reported the effect of MNB size on the dissolution of ozone gas in the washing medium and its effect on the degradation of residual pesticides from F&V. The mechanism and routes of pesticide degradation and how integrating MNB technology (MNBT) can help overcome economic losses, reduce health issues for consumers, and save the environment from harmful chemicals used in the pesticides are also discussed. The article encourages the development and utilization of MNBT not only in agriculture, but aquaculture, fisheries, food industries, food storage, and packing, for reducing/degrading the residual pesticides from foods and support environmental sustainability as well as improve international trade.