Effect of 3D Cornflower-like MoS₂-Assisted Peroxymonosulfate Process on Pesticide Removal and Aroma Quality Retaining for Tomato Fruits

The application of neonicotinoid insecticides (NEOs) increases the potential exposure risks and has an impact on the aroma quality of tomato fruits. Here, 3D cornflower-like MoS₂ (MoS₂-CF) was fabricated to directly activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for fast removal of three typical NEOs. The 3D MoS₂-CF catalyst achieved over 96.5% NEO degradation within 15 min, which maximum increased 52.5% than that of 2D MoS₂. Experiments and density functional theory calculations unraveled that the unique 3D cornflower-like structure of MoS₂-CF facilitated the exposure of Mo active sites, which improved electron transfer and PMS activation. Quenching experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance tests revealed that the ¹O₂-mediated nonradical pathway played a dominant role in NEO removal. Comparative aroma profile analysis revealed that the developed process showed negligible effect on the aroma quality of tomato fruits. This study demonstrated the potential of the MoS₂-CF/PMS treatment on pesticide residue removal and aroma quality retention for fresh vegetables.