REMOVAL OF PESTICIDES FROM WATER USING HYPERCROSSLINKED POLYMER PHASES - PART-3 - MINICOLUMN STUDIES AND THE EFFECT OF FULVIC AND HUMIC SUBSTANCES

The adsorption of pesticides onto activated carbon and Hypersol-Macron et(TM) polymers has been compared in small-scale mini-column tests. Th e adsorption of simazine, chlorotoluron, isoproturon, atrazine and diu ron onto hypercrosslinked polymers is selective. Isoproturon is the mo st preferred pesticide, followed by the sequence: diuron, atrazine, ch lorotoluron and simazine. Adsorption of the pesticides appears to be c ontrolled by hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonding with the su rface of the polymer matrix. The pesticide adsorption capacity of Chem viron F-400 activated carbon is significantly greater than the polymer ic adsorbents in the absence of fulvic acid. However, the adsorption c apacity of the polymeric adsorbents is only slightly reduced in the pr esence of 20 mgl(-1) fulvic acid whereas there is a very pronounced de crease in pesticide uptake with Chemviron F-400 under similar conditio ns. This is explained in relation to the physical and chemical propert ies of the materials.