Degradation of the Herbicide Butachlor by Laboratory-synthesized Nanoscale Fe0 in Batch Experiments. 2006

[Tae-Ho Han]

Degradation of the Herbicide Butachlor by Laboratory-synthesized Nanoscale Fe0 in Batch Experiments
Hyang Yeon Kim, In Kyung Kim, Tae-Ho Han, Jae Han Shim and In Seon Kim*

Agric. Chem. Biotechnol. 49(3), 139-143 (2006)

Degradation of the herbicide butachlor was investigated using laboratory-synthesized zerovalent iron
(Fe0). The synthesized zerovalent iron was determined to be nanoscale powder by scanning electron
microscopic analysis. To investigate degradation of butachlor using the synthesized nanoscale
zerovalent iron, time-course batch experiments were conducted by treating the solution of butachlor
formulation with the iron. More than 90% degradation of butachlor was observed by iron treatment
within 24 h. The synthesized nanoscale zerovalent iron showed an increase in particle aggregation in the
batch tests. Green rust formation and a pH drop in solutions were observed, suggesting that the
oxidation of the iron occurred. When the iron was extracted with dichloromethane, a negligible
concentration was found in the extract, suggesting that butachlor did not bind to the iron particles. GC/
MS analysis detected the dechlorinated product as a major degradation product of butachlor in the
solutions. The data indicate that laboratory-synthesized zerovalent iron functioned as a reductant to
remove electron-withdrawing chlorine, giving the dechlorinated product.
Key words: zerovalent iron, butachlor, pesticide, herbicide

2006 Degradation of the Herbicide Butachlor InSeonKim.pdf