Evidence for 2,4-D mineralisation in Mediterranean soils: impact of moisture content and temperature.

Background: The 2,4-D degradation ability of the microbiota of three arable Mediterranean soils was estimated. The impact of soil moisture and temperature on 2,4-D degradation was investigated.

Results: The microbiota of the three soils regularly exposed to 2,4-D were able rapidly to mineralise this herbicide.

Comparison of Diuron degradation by direct UV photolysis and advanced oxidation processes.

The rates of Diuron elimination by some advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) such as Fe(III)/UV, Ferrioxalate/UV, Fe(III)/H(2)O(2)/UV, Ferrioxalate/UV/H(2)O(2) and Fe(III)/H(2)O(2) have been compared. Experiments have been conducted at pH=2.3+/-0.

Photodegradation of chlorinated pesticides dispersed on sand.

The photochemical behaviour of several chlorinated pesticides, namely 4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid (MCPA), dichlorophen (DCPH), flamprop-methyl (FPM) and vinclozolin (VCZ) is studied on various kinds of sand: Fontainebleau sand (almost pure silica), Touggourt sand (coloured sand from Sahara) and Jijel sand (dark marine sand). The photodegradation of MCPA is more rapid on Fontainebleau sand than on the two others, because the former is almost colourless pure silica and the others adsorb on the internal surface of the reactor. The degradation rate decreases in the order MCPA, DCPH, FPM, VCZ.