Intimate coupling of photocatalysis and biodegradation (ICPB): A viable method for removing pesticides from contaminated sites

Large quantities of pesticides have been released into the environment due to the tremendous development of industry and agriculture. These emerging pollutants are a major risk in the present era. Intimate coupling of photocatalysis and biodegradation (ICPB), a novel wastewater treatment approach that combines the benefits of biological treatment and photocatalytic reactions, has shown significant promise as a low-cost, environmentally friendly, and long-term treatment option. The key principle of ICPB is to transform bio-recalcitrant pollutants into biodegradable products by photocatalysing them on the surface of porous carriers. Then they are completely mineralized into carbon dioxide and water by the microbes present in the interior of the carrier. This chapter provides information regarding the fate, behavior, and effects of pesticides, the mechanism of ICPB, photocatalysts, and carriers used in ICPB, and discusses the application of ICPB to deal with organic pollution.