Radiolytic degradation of herbicide 4-chloro-2-methyl phenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) by gamma-radiation for environmental protection.

Reversed-phase HPLC determination of the herbicide MCPA and its products of radiolytic degradation has been optimized. The radiolytic degradation was carried out using gamma-irradiation and was optimized in terms of irradiation dose and pH of irradiated MCPA solution. Decomposition of 100 ppm MCPA in pure solutions required irradiation with a 3 kGy dose.