The adsorption of herbicides and pesticides on clay minerals and soils. Part 1. Isoproturon

The adsorption of isoproturon and two model compounds, N,N-dimethylurea and 4-isopropylaniline, on clay minerals (bentonite, montmorillonite and kaolinite), organic matter (humic acid) and soil (with and without organic matter) has been studied using FT-infrared spectroscopy (IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). N,N-dimethylurea interacted with bentonite and montmorillonite by the coordination of the carbonyl group, directly or indirectly through water molecules, with exchangeable cations. Adsorption on humic acid was due to hydrogen bonding with the active sites of the adsorbent. The amino group of N,N-dimethylurea appears to be relatively inactive during adsorption. The mechanisms involved in the adsorption of 4-isopropylaniline were hydrogen bonding and protonation. No adsorption of 4-isopropylaniline was observed on kaolinite. The investigation of isoproturon suggested that both the carbonyl and amino groups of isoproturon were involved in interactions with the active sites of the adsorbents. Both the clay minerals and organic matter of soil contribute to the adsorption of organic compounds on soil but the clay minerals bentonite and montmorillonite play a major role in their adsorption on soil.