Release of the atrazine non-extractable (bound) residues of two soils using degradative techniques

NaOH extraction, HF treatment, and HQ hydrolysis applied on the humified fr action of two soils incubated with C-14-atrazine allowed to release between 77 and 89% of the total non-extractable (bound) residues of atrazine. Betw een 40 and 58% of the released C-14-bound residues were identified as the p arent compound or degradation products (mainly hydroxy-atrazine). Humin see med to be the most quantitative compartment responsible for the accumulatio n of the bound residues. A large part of bound residues was associated with the fulvic organic matter (only in the most acidic soil). In spite of the artefacts in relation to the transformation of extracted residues by the re agents used, important information is acquired about the identity of the bo und residues and its association to the soil constituents.