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Mild Thermal Degradation of Pesticides
Author(s) -
Stojanovic B. J.,
Hutto Fay,
Kennedy M. V.,
Shuman F. L.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq1972.00472425000100040013x
Subject(s) - chemistry , pesticide , atrazine , pesticide degradation , degradation (telecommunications) , carbaryl , environmental chemistry , halogenation , dicamba , pyrolysis , picloram , combustion , organic chemistry , weed control , computer science , horticulture , agronomy , telecommunications , biology
Partial degradation of 12 selected analytical grade pesticides was produced by heating the chemicals at temperatures between 100 and 400C. Each pesticide was modified physically and chemically at a temperature at least 300–450C below its complete combustion temperature. At these relatively low temperatures eight of the original nine solids (zineb, picloram, dieldrin, atrazine, bromacil, carbaryl, DNBP, and 2,4‐D) remained solid, while dicamba was converted to a liquid. The three liquids (DBCP, vernolate, and malathion) were all converted to solids. Eight of the original 12 compounds also yielded gray to brown to black residues upon heating. Infrared spectroscopic analyses indicated that the extent of degradation of the heated pesticides ranged from formation of a single degradation product to production of a mixture of compounds. Most pesticides, however, were degraded through loss of one or two substituents of the molecule by processes such as dehalogenation and decarboxylation.