DEGRADATION OF ATRAZINE BY FENTONS REAGENT - CONDITION OPTIMIZATION AND PRODUCT QUANTIFICATION

Atrazine loro-4-(ethylamino)-6-(isopropylamino)-s-triazine] degradatio n by Fenton's reagent (FR) was determined as a function of reagents' c oncentration and ratios and pH in batch treatments. The optimal mixtur e, 2.69 mM (1:1) FeSO4:H2O2, completely degraded [2,4,6-C-14]atrazine (140 mu M) in less than or equal to 30 s primarily to 2-chloro-4,6-dia mino-s-triazine (CAAT, 23%) and 2-acetamido-4-amino-6-chloro-s-triazin e (CDAT, 28%). Chloride release of 55 +/- 9% indicated that dehalogena ted s-triazines accounted for the balance of C-14. Higher FR concentra tions lowered CDAT concentrations, but CAAT and the dehalogenated s-tr iazines persisted. Atrazine degradation decreased from 99% at pH 3 to 37% at pH 9. Thus, FR can rapidly degrade atrazine, but post-treatment s may be necessary to eliminate residual chloro-s-triazines like CDAT and CAAT.