PESTICIDE CHEMICAL OXIDATION PROCESSES - AN ANALYTICAL APPROACH

This article gives an overview of the different analytical approaches for carrying out pesticide degradation studies in waters by means of a dvanced oxidation processes (AOPs). The degree of mineralization achie ved under AOPs and the identity of by-products of a large number of co mpounds belonging to the major pesticide families, triazines, phenoxya cids, and organophosphorus compounds, are presented. Critical comments are aimed at emphasizing the lack of suitable analytical methods in o rder to both follow the kinetics of formation and disappearance of by- products and identify their chemical structures. More particularly the crucial role of gas chromatography and liquid chromatography in combi nation with mass spectrometry is stated. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V .