Adsorption mechanism of chloroacetanilide herbicides to modified montmorillonite

This study was undertaken to characterize the adsorption mechanism of alachlor and metolachlor on montmorillonite modified with cationic surfactants. Adsorbed amounts of cationic surfactant on montmorillonite surfaces were determined by CNHSO analyzer. Equilibrium concentrations of alachlor and metolachlor were determined by GC and adsorption results were fit to a linear regression equation. The slope of the isotherms (K-d) was normalized to the fraction of organic carbon on montmorillonite complexes to produce corresponding K-oc. Adsorption of surfactants fit very well to Langmuir equation. Increased basal spacing indicates that surfactant molecules could penetrate through the interlayer spacing and arrange themselves in different ways. Equilibrium data of alachlor and metolachlor suggest that adsorption may occur via physical or chemical bonds. K-oc values of alachlor or metolachlor decreased as the fraction of the organic carbon increased in montmorillonite complexes indicating independent adsorption process. Changes of the molar free energy of the adsorption reactions were in the range of physical adsorption, indicating that adsorption reactions are spontaneous and the molecules either adsorb on the surface or penetrate into the inter-layers of montmorillonite-surfactant complex. Careful investigation of the adsorption data suggests that interaction may occur via the active groups such as carbonyl group (-C=O), anilidic (C-N) group and/or phenyl rings. This information may provide better understanding on adsorption mechanism and be useful in designing ecologically acceptable herbicide formulations.