Sorptive and degradative assessments of environmentally pestilential Benzimidazole fungicide Fuberidazole in pedosphere

ABSTRACT

Current research is the pioneer report on toxic benzimidazole-based fungicide. Fuberidazole was for its sorptive and variegated degradative routes. Environmental investigation was performed on 10 heterogeneous soil samples from multiple localities. Analysis and quantification of Fuberidazole degradation and its metabolites were performed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry and UV-visible spectrophotometry. Soil adsorption and desorption processes were conducted in batch equilibrium, which yielded _{13.0 to 25.8 µg/g} (R² = 0.88–0.98) adsorption capacity while a mediocre desorption capability. Thermodynamic parameter, ΔG (Gibbs-free energy), exhibited physisorption and interaction of pesticide through weak Van der waal’s forces. Degradation in soil exhibited a maximum dissipation rate of 99% with lowest half-life 0.95 days. Hydrolytic degradation displayed 97% transformation with lowest half-life of 3 days. Photolysis of Fuberidazole was achieved highest in lowest concentration of pesticide while least photo-degradation was observed in 7.5 ppm of just 12%. Results from the current research portray the medium sorptive capacities of Fuberidazole indicating lower risk of ground water contamination through leaching.

KEYWORDS:

• Adsorption
• hydrolysis
• photo-degradation
• hazardous
• Fuberidazole
• benzimidazole

Acknowledgement

The concept, idea, data and writing is the intellectual property right of Dr. Khuram Shahzad Ahmad and Lab E-21 of Department of Environmental Sciences, Fatima Jinnah Women University, The Mall, 46000, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Author want to thank Department of Environmental Sciences, Fatima Jinnah Women University, The Mall, 46000, Rawalpindi, Pakistan for the provisioning of the technical and financial facilities needed for the completion of this work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).