Spiking solvent, humidity and their impact on 2,4-D and 2,4-DCP extractability from high humic matter content soils

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) 2008-05, Vol.71 (11), p.2168-2172
• Main Authors: Merini, Luciano Jose, Cuadrado, Virginia, Giulietti, Ana María
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 2,4-D; 2,4-dichlorophenol; 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid - analysis; 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid - chemistry; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Analysis methods; Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Exact sciences and technology; extraction; Fulvic acid; fulvic acids; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; herbicide residues; Herbicides - analysis; Herbicides - chemistry; Humic acid; humic acids; Humic Substances - analysis; Humidity; Humines; methanol; Phenoxy herbicides; Phyto; polluted soils; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; sandy loam soils; Soil - analysis; Soil and sediments pollution; Soil and water pollution; Soil extraction; soil organic matter; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Soil Pollutants - chemistry; soil pollution; Soil science; soil water content; solvents
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2007.12.025

The 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) is a hormone-like herbicide widely used in agriculture. Although its half life in soil is approximately two weeks, the thousands of tons introduced in the environment every year represent a risk for human health and the environment. Considering the toxic properties of this compound and its degradation products, it is important to assess and monitor the 2,4-D residues in agricultural soils. Furthermore, experiments of phyto/bioremediation are carried out to find economic and environmental friendly tools to restore the polluted soils. Accordingly, it is essential to accurately measure the amount of 2,4-D and its metabolites in soils. There is evidence that 2,4-D extraction from soil samples seriously depends on the physical and chemical properties of the soil, especially in those soils with high content of humic acids. The aim of this work was to assess the variables that influence the recovery and subsequent analysis of 2,4-D and its main metabolite (2,4-dichlorophenol) from those soils samples. The results showed that the recovery efficiency depends on the solvent and method used for the extraction, the amount and kind of solvent used for dissolving the herbicide and the soil water content at the moment of spiking. An optimized protocol for the extraction and quantification of 2,4-D and its main metabolite from soil samples is presented.