LIGHT-INDUCED TRANSFORMATION OF TRIBENURON-METHYL ON GLASS, SOIL, AND PLANT SURFACE

Abstract

Photolysis of tribenuron-methyl (methyl 2-[[[[N-(4-methoxy-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl) methylamino]carbonyl]amino]sulfonyl]benzoate), a sulfonylurea herbicide, was studied as thin film on glass surface, soil surface, and plant surface. A number of photoproducts such as 4-methoxy-6-methyl-2-aminomethyl-1,3,5-triazine; methyl-2-(aminosulfonyl) benzoate; N-(2-carbomethoxyphenyl)-N-(4-methoxy-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)-N′-methylurea; N-(2-carbomethoxyphenyl sulfonyl)-N-methyl urea; o-benzoic sulfimide and 4-methoxy-6-methyl-2-amino-1,3,5-triazine were identified by comparison of their GC–MS with the authentic standards. The rate of degradation in all the cases followed first-order kinetics with a statistically significant correlation coefficient. Rate of photodegradation was greater on glass surface than on soil surface.

Keywords:

• Tribenuron-methyl
• Photolysis
• Photoproducts
• Soil
• Plant
• Glass
• Rate kinetics

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Contribution No. 835.