Atrazine, isoproturon, mecoprop, 2,4-D, and bentazone adsorption onto iron oxides

Iron oxides are important components influencing the adsorption of various inorganic and organic compounds in soils and sediments. In this study the adsorption on iron oxides of nonionic and ionic pesticides was determined as a function of solution pH, ionic strength, and pesticide concentration. The investigated iron oxides included two-line ferrihydrite, goethite, and lepidocrocite.

Selected pesticides comprised atrazine (6-chloro-N2-ethyl-N4-isopropyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine), isoproturon [3-(4-isopropylphenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea)], mecoprop [(RS)-2-(4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)propionic acid], 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid), and bentazone [3-isopropyl-1H-2,1,3-benzothiadiazin-4(3H)-one 2,2-dioxide].

The adsorption of the nonionic pesticides (atrazine and isoproturon) was insignificant, whereas the adsorption of the acidic pesticides (mecoprop, 2,4-D, and bentazone) was significant on all investigated iron oxides. The adsorption capacity increased with decreasing pH, with maximum adsorption reached close to the pKa values.

The addition of CaCl2 in concentrations from 0.0025 to 0.01 M caused the adsorption capacity to diminish. The adsorption of bentazone was significantly lower than the adsorption of mecoprop and 2,4-D, illustrating the importance of a carboxyl group in the pesticide structure. The adsorption capacity on the iron oxides increased in the order: lepidocrocite < goethite < two-line ferrihydrite.

The maximum adsorption capacities of meco-prop and 2,4-D on goethite were found to be equivalent to the site density of singly coordinated hydroxyl groups on the faces of the dominant (110) form, suggesting that singly coordinated hydroxyl groups are responsible for adsorption. Differences in adsorption capacities between iron oxides can be explained by differences in the surface site density of singly coordinated hydroxyl groups.

The maximum measured adsorption capacity of mecoprop on two-line ferrihydrite was equivalent to 0.2 mol/mol Fe.