Dissipation of racemic mecoprop and dichlorprop and their pure R-enantiomers in three calcareous soils with and without peat addition.

Two racemic herbicides, mecoprop (R,S-MCPP) and dichlorprop (R,S-DCPP), as well as their enantiopure R-forms, were incubated in three calcareous soils at 15 degrees C and 80% of their field capacity to try to elucidate their behaviour in soil and compare the dissipation rates when racemic and enantiopure compounds are used. Quantitation of pesticides is made by HPLC and the R/S ratio by GC-MS. The inactive S-enantiomer from the racemic forms persists longer than the R-forms in silt and sandy loam soils, but for shorter time in the clay loam soil. The pure R-enantiomers, both for MCPP and DCPP, after incubation in soil, are partially converted into their S-forms. In all cases, the dissipation of racemic and pure enatiomeric forms is lower in the clay loam soil than in the silt and sandy loam soils. The R-forms' peristence, in the three soils, is approximately two times lower when they are incubated alone than when they are incubated as racemic compounds. When peat is added, the persistence of these herbicides in the silt and sandy loam soils increases, while in the clay loam soil it decreases. Besides, in the clay loam soil, the enantiomeric ratio (ER) changes from its S-preferential degradation to a preferential degradation of its R-form, so an increase in the persistence of the inactive S-form occurs.

Adsorption of Water Vapor by Homoionic Montmorillonites. Heats of Adsorption and Desorption

Adsorption isotherms for water vapor, basal spacing, and immersion heats and water desorption heats of Li+, Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Cu2+, and Fe3+ montmorillonite are measured at various relative humidities (r.h.). The amount of water adsorbed as a function of r.h. is found to increase gradually, whereas basal spacing increases and the adsorption heat decreases in steps. The water desorption heat also decreases in steps. The entropy of adsorbed water appears to be negative with respect to the entropy of liquid water. A theoretical model is proposed to describe the hydration process of Li+, Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Cu2+, and Fe3+ montmorillonites. The experimental adsorption heats are found to have a direct relationship with the sum of the hydration energy of the cations plus expansion energy.

Liquid chromatographic determination of carbendazim in the presence of some normal soil constituents with photodiode-array detection.

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the determination of carbendazim in the presence of some normal soil constituents (kaolinite, montmorillonite and peat). Spiked aqueous soil samples were injected after centrifugation and filtration. Quantitative recoveries were observed and good precision was obtained. The concentration range studied, 1.6716-8.3580 mg/l, is the most suitable for adsorption-desorption studies of carbendazim on soil and soil constituents.

Gas chromatographic methods for determination of gamma-BHC in technical emulsifiable concentrates and water-dispersible powder formulations and in lindane shampoo and lotion: collaborative study.

Although the gas chromatographic separation of the isomers of BHC was demonstrated two decades ago, the present AOAC method of analysis of BHC for gamma-isomer (lindane) content is based on a separation carried out on a liquid chromatographic partition column. A method of analysis has been developed that uses an OV-210 column for separation of the gamma-isomer from the other isomers and impurities in technical BHC. Di-n-propyl phthalate was chosen as an internal standard. The same system allows quantitation of lindane in lotion and shampoo after these products are extracted with ethyl acetate-isooctane (1 + 4). The analytical methods were subjected to a collaborative trial with 10 laboratories. The coefficient of variation for technical BHC was 2.83%. For the water-dispersible powder and emulsifiable concentrate, the coefficients of variation were 2.89% and 4.62%, respectively. Coefficients of variation for 1% lindane lotion and shampoo were 4.36% and 11.92%, respectively. The method has been adopted official first action.