Effect of Gaseous Ozone Fumigation on Organophosphate Pesticide Degradation of Dried Chilies

Abstract

The objective of this work was to study the effects of ozone fumigation on pesticides’ residue degradation in dried chilies while maintaining its qualities. Gaseous ozone with a gas rate of 5.5 g/h was applied to four organophosphate pesticides for 5 to 30 min. The degradation kinetics of the pesticide residue was then analyzed. The results showed that gaseous ozone degraded malathion, chlorpyrifos, profenofos, and ethion with half-life periods (t1/2) of 17.4, 27.4, 34.1, and 18.0 min, equivalent to 99.9% shorter half-life period as compared to non-ozone degradation. Furthermore, ozone fumigation did not significantly affect (p0.05) the water activity, color, and capsaicin content of dried chilies.