HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Stojanovic, B. J. Articles by Shuman, F. L. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Stojanovic, B. J. Articles by Shuman, F. L., Jr. Agricola Articles by Stojanovic, B. J. Articles by Shuman, F. L.

Mild Thermal Degradation of Pesticides¹

ABSTRACT

Partial degradation of 12 selected analytical grade pesticides was produced by heating the chemicals at temperatures between 100 and 400C. Each pesticide was modified physically and chemically at a temperature at least 300–450C below its complete combustion temperature. At these relatively low temperatures eight of the original nine solids (zineb, picloram, dieldrin, atrazine, bromacil, carbaryl, DNBP, and 2,4-D) remained solid, while dicamba was converted to a liquid. The three liquids (DBCP, vernolate, and malathion) were all converted to solids. Eight of the original 12 compounds also yielded gray to brown to black residues upon heating. Infrared spectroscopic analyses indicated that the extent of degradation of the heated pesticides ranged from formation of a single degradation product to production of a mixture of compounds. Most pesticides, however, were degraded through loss of one or two substituents of the molecule by processes such as dehalogenation and decarboxylation.

Key Words: pesticide thermo-detoxification • pesticide disposal • thermo-induced changes of pesticides

¹ Journal article no. 2223, Mississippi Agr. and Forestry Exp. Sta., Mississippi State Univ. This study was supported by ARS, USDA Grant No. 12-14-100-9182(34), administered by the Plant Sci. Res. Div., Beltsville, Md. Paper presented in part at the Amer. Chem. Soc. Meeting, April 13–18, 1969, Minneapolis, Minn.

² Professor of Soil Microbiology and Research Chemist, Agronomy Dep., and Associate Professors of Biochemistry and of Agricultural and Biological Eng., respectively, Mississippi State Univ., State College, Miss. 39762.

Received for publication December 16, 1971.