Influence of copper on the adsorption and desorption of paraquat, diquat, and difenzoquat in vineyard acid soils

Copper Monitoring in Vineyard Soils of Central Italy Subjected to Three Antifungal Treatments, and Effects of Sub-Lethal Copper Doses on the Earthworm Eisenia fetida

The extensive employment of copper-based fungicides has increased copper concentration in vineyard soils. The present study's objectives were to monitor copper concentration in two vineyard soils during two cropping seasons and study the ecotoxicological effects on the earthworm Eisenia fetida. Total, soluble, and bioavailable copper fractions were measured at the end of two cropping seasons and different depths in two vineyards of central Italy, characterised by three anticryptogamic control methods: copper compounds, chitosan, and combined treatments of them. A laboratory experiment to assess the effects on Eisenia fetida was conducted with soil samples collected in the vineyards with a mean copper concentration of 60 mg/kg and two higher concentrations of 90 and 150 mg/kg. Results showed low levels of total copper concentration in the first 20 cm of soils, regardless of antifungal treatment, highlighting prudent management of the vineyards under study, but the soluble fractions showed a significant increase in all samples during the two cropping seasons. At the dose of 150 mg/kg, earthworms suffer during the first two days, showing weight loss and DNA damage, but they are able to recover until day 28, showing no permanent harm at this copper concentration in soil.

Chitosan functionalized Halloysite Nanotubes as a receptive surface for laccase and copper to perform degradation of chlorpyrifos in aqueous environment

Chitosan (CTS) functionalized Halloysite Nanotubes (HNT) have been used as receptive nano-supports for the grafting of copper (Cu) and laccase (Lac) for the degradation of chlorpyrifos. The developed nanocomposite Lac@Cu-CTS-HNT showed 83.4% Lac immobilization which was further characterized by TEM, SEM-EDX, FTIR, XRD, DSC and TGA. The chlorpyrifos degradation studies were performed under constant stirring for 24 h with both free enzyme and Lac@Cu-CTS-HNT and were analysed through HPLC. Percentage degradation of chlorpyrifos with the nanocomposite went as high as 97% for 50 μg/mL chlorpyrifos at neutral pH and room temperature. Variable pesticide and nanocomposite concentration, pH, and temperature studies for pesticide degradation were also performed, followed by reusability studies. The nanocomposite maintained its degradation ability at ~97% even at variable temperature and pH conditions. Reusability study was performed 5 times wherein the degradation percentage remained the same after 5 cycles (~<95%). Degradation kinetics were also performed for the nanocomposite in the presence and absence of the immobilized enzyme. Through this study, it is suggested that Lac@Cu-CTS-HNT can be a potential nano-catalyst for the degradation of chlorpyrifos in aqueous environment.

Retention of propiconazole and terbutryn on acid sandy-loam soils with different organic matter and Cu concentrations

Equilibrium propiconazole and terbutryn adsorption characteristics were evaluated in ten acid vineyard soils with a wide range of organic matter and copper concentrations using batch experiments. Adsorption data from equilibrium adsorption experiments were generally well described by linear and Freundlich models. Parameters from these models showed that soil organic matter played a key role of propiconazole adsorption processes, but also the amorphous Fe oxides content in soils. Soil organic matter positively influenced terbutryn adsorption, whereas increases in exchangeable copper decreased terbutryn adsorption. Desorption experiments showed that both, propiconazole and terbutryn adsorption in soils was quite irreversible, i.e. the amount of pesticides desorbed after its adsorption was always less than 50%.

Characterization of adsorption and desorption of lawn herbicide siduron in heavy metal contaminated soils

Siduron is a widely used herbicide in urban lawn and has been frequently detected in urban and suburban surface water. However, characteristics of its environmental behavior in soil are seldom reported. The combined pollution of heavy metals, especially for Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn and siduron would be common because of the widely existence of heavy metal pollution in urban soils. In this study, four soils with similar physicochemical properties but different levels of preexisting heavy metals were selected to investigate the adsorption and successive desorption of siduron using batch experiments. The results revealed a low sorption of siduron to all the tested soils. The organic carbon normalized distribution coefficient (K_oc) of siduron in the studied soils ranged from 117 to 137 L kg^-1 and was not significantly correlated to heavy metal levels. No apparent desorption hysteresis was observed with the hysteresis index (HI) ranging from 0.921 to 1.11. More than 50% of the sorbed siduron was readily released into soil solution. Results suggested that siduron was highly mobile and bioavailable in the studied soils. Significant correlation was found between adsorption/desorption parameters and soil organic carbon (SOC) in four soils. soil organic matter was thus considered as the dominant factor determining the adsorption and desorption of siduron in soils. Different from most of reported studies conducted by laboratory-amended soils, the influence of preexisting heavy metals on the adsorption-desorption of siduron was not significant in this work.

Sorption of dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride (DTAC) to agricultural soils

Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) used as cationic surfactants are intensively released into environment to be pollutants receiving more and more concerns. Sorption of dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride (DTAC), one of commonly used alkyl QACs, to five types of agricultural soils at low concentrations (1-50mg/L) was investigated using batch experiments. DTAC sorption followed pseudo-second-order kinetics and reached reaction equilibrium within 120min. Both Freundlich model and Langmuir model fitted well with DTAC isotherm data with the latter better. DTAC sorption was spontaneous and favorable, presenting a physical sorption dominated by ion exchanges. Sorption distribution coefficient and sorption affinity demonstrated that soil clay contents acted as a predominant phase of DTAC sorption. DTAC could display a higher mobility and potential accumulation in crops in the soils with lower clay contents and lower pH values. Sorption of DTAC was heavily affected by ions in solution with anion promotion and cation inhibition.

Effect of copper ions on the degradation of thiram in aqueous solution: identification of degradation products by HPLC-MS/MS

The aim of this work was to examine the effect of Cu(II) on the degradation of thiram (Thi) in aqueous solutions, since the literature focused on this effect is scarce and copper based fungicides can be applied together with thiram or during the same season to agricultural crops. The effect of Cu(II) on the degradation of thiram was followed by both UV-vis and HPLC-MS/MS. When thiram is dissolved in pure water its degradation occurs very slowly, being negligible during the first 7 days. However, the presence of Cu(II) has a strong influence on the thiram degradation in aqueous solutions along time. In the presence of an excess of Cu(II), a [CuThi](2+) complex is initially formed which degrades into a complex formed between the dimethyldithiocarbamate anion (DMDTC) and Cu(II) ion, [Cu(DMDTC)](+). This complex further degrades leading to other copper complexes which were identified for the first time, by MS(n). The results obtained in the present work also demonstrated that a redox reaction involving DMDTC anions and Cu(II) ions gives rise to the formation of a Thi-Cu(I) complex. Finally, some of the complexes resulting from the degradation of [CuThi](2+) are quite persistent in solution for long periods of time (>1 month).

Sorption/desorption of non-hydrophobic and ionisable pharmaceutical and personal care products from reclaimed water onto/from a natural sediment

In the present work, the sorption of pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) (acetaminophen, atenolol, carbamazepine, caffeine, naproxen and sulphamethoxazole) onto the natural organic matter (NOM) and the inorganic surfaces of a natural sandy loam sediment was quantified separately. The quantification was based on the PPCP charge, their degree of ionisation, their octanol-water partitioning coefficient (KOW) and the sediment organic carbon fraction (ƒOC). PPCP desorption from the sediment was examined under conditions of infiltrating water containing a high concentration of inorganic ions (mimicking infiltrating reclaimed water), and a low concentration (and smaller diversity) of inorganic ions (mimicking rainwater infiltration). Batch tests were performed using a sediment/water ratio of 1:4 and a PPCP initial concentration ranging from 1 to 100 μg L(-1). The results showed the type and degree of PPCP ionisation to strongly influence the sorption of these compounds onto the sediment. The sorption of cationic species onto the sediment was higher than that of anionic species and mostly reversible; the sorption of neutral species was negligible. The anionic species sorbed less onto the sediment, but also desorbed less easily. More than 70% of the total sorption was due to interaction with mineral surfaces. This holds especially true for cationic species (atenolol and caffeine) which sorption was enhanced by the negative surface charge of the sediment. The presence of inorganic ions had no impact on the desorption of the PPCPs from the sediment. According to the calculated percentages of removal, the mobility followed the order: carbamazepine>acetaminophen>naproxen>atenolol>sulfamethoxazole>caffeine.

Critical review on the environmental fate of quaternary ammonium herbicides in soils devoted to vineyards

Quaternary Ammonium Herbicides (QUATs) are nonselective contact herbicides, widely used at weed emergence to protect a wide range of crops. The benefits achieved by the use of these herbicides are indisputable. In soils devoted to vineyards, their uses increase the yield and the quality of the grapes for winemaking. However, several environmental dangers have emerged from the overuse of these compounds. Therefore, there has been a great interest in the presence of these compounds in soils, water, and food. Once in the soil, the mobility of these agrochemicals plays an important role in their fate and transport in the environment. This is why we mainly focused our review on (a) their physical and chemical properties and their activity, (b) the factors affecting their mobility in soils, (c) the quality of surrounding waters, and (d) the measures to reduce their contamination, especially in the case of agricultural soils devoted to vineyards.

Influence of soil copper content on the kinetics of thiram adsorption and on thiram leachability from soils

This work aimed to assess the influence of soil copper content on the sorption processes of thiram, a fungicide widely used in agriculture, most of the times together with copper. Two different types of studies were performed: (1) desorption studies of thiram with acetonitrile after batch adsorption equilibration, and ageing of the wet soil for a variable period of time; (2) kinetic studies of thiram adsorption performed using the soil in its original form and after fortification with copper ions. In the desorption studies, with the increase of the ageing time, a decrease of the thiram peak and a simultaneous increase of a new peak, assigned to a copper complex, were observed in the chromatograms. This new peak increases sharply until an ageing period of about 4d and then this area is maintained approximately constant until 18 d, the maximum ageing period studied. These results indicate that thiram reacts with copper ions along time giving rise to the formation of relatively persistent copper complexes in soil. Desorption studies with CaCl(2) 0.01 M solution showed that this complex is not extracted. Thus, it is not easily leached to ground and surface waters and copper may contribute to thiram immobilization in soil. The kinetic studies of thiram adsorption were performed in both soils and for two initial thiram concentrations (~7 and 20 mg L(-1)). For the soil fortified with copper the percentage of adsorbed thiram is higher than observed for the original soil at the same initial concentrations and equilibration times and 100% of adsorption is attained in 15 h or 48 h, depending on the thiram initial concentration. Four kinetic equations, the pseudo first- and second-order equations, the Elovich and the intraparticle diffusion equations were selected to fit the kinetic data of the adsorption process of thiram onto both original and fortified soil. The best model to describe the kinetics of thiram adsorption onto the original soil is the intraparticle diffusion model. For the soil fortified with copper ions we verified that for the highest initial thiram concentration, the best model is also the intraparticle diffusion model, however, for the lower initial thiram concentration the best model is the pseudo second-order kinetic equation, suggesting that, for a high Cu:Thi ratio, a chemical reaction of thiram with copper ions on the soil surface can occur, and it may be the rate controlling step. Since the kinetics of adsorption depends on both soil copper content and the initial thiram concentration in solution, i.e. depends on Cu:Thi ratio, it is difficult to choose a fixed batch equilibration time for adsorption studies of thiram.

Iron(III) oxidized nucleophilic coupling of catechol with o-tolidine/p-toluidine followed by 1,10-phenanthroline as new and sensitivity improved spectrophotometric methods for iron present in chemicals, pharmaceutical, edible green leaves, nuts and lake water samples

A nucleophile formed from iron(III) oxidized catechol in 0.1M hydrochloric acid couple with o-tolidine, system 1/p-toluidine, system 2 to produce dye product, λ max 520 nm. The system 1/2 obeys Beer's law in the range 0.08-8.0 μg ml(-1) with molar absorptivity, Sandell sensitivity and regression coefficient values, 4.225 × 10(3)/3.140 × 10(3) l mol(-1) cm(-1), 0.0132/0.0178 μg cm(-2) and 0.9987/0.9981. Iron(II) formed from iron(III) in system 1/2 reacts with 1,10-phenanthroline, λ max 510 nm, will constitute sensitivity improved iron determinations with values 0.08-1.6 μg ml(-1), 2.4136 × 10(4)/2.2511 × 10(4) l mol(-1) cm(-1), 0.0023/0.0025 μg cm(-2) and 0.9980/0.9997 corresponding to range, molar absorptivity, Sandell sensitivity and regression coefficient. The results of the systems for iron present in chemicals, pharmaceutical, edible green leaves, nuts and lake water samples are satisfactory since they are comparable with the results of iron determined separately from 1,10-phenanthroline method.

Sorption and cosorption of the nonionic herbicide mefenacet and heavy metals on soil and its components

Sorption and cosorption of the nonionic herbicide mefenacet and two typical metals (copper and silver) on black soil and its components (kaolinite and humic acid) were investigated. It was found that because of their different valences and properties, Cu2+ and Ag+ presented different effects on the sorption of mefenacet. Due to the competition of Cu2+, along with the shells of dense water formed by its surface complexation, for sorption surface area with mefenacet, the addition of Cu2+ decreased the sorption amount of mefenacet on soil and its components, especially on humic acid. However, the addition of Ag+ significantly enhanced the sorption of mefenacet, which was attributed to the softness of the cation that weakened the hydrophilicity of the local region around Ag(+)-complexed functionalities, and thus mitigated the competitive sorption of water. In addition, the sorption of mefenacet on soil with or without the two metals was generally decreased with increasing pH, which was caused by the hydrolysis of carbonyl and carboxyl groups on the surface of the sorbents, pi-pi interaction between mefenacet and the soil organic matter, and so on. On the other hand, the presence of mefenacet seemed to have little effect on the sorption of Cu2+ and Ag+, indicating that Cu2+ and Ag+ might be sorbed strongly on the tested sorbents and the mefenacet added was too low in concentration to affect the sorption of the metals.

Mutagenicity of quaternary ammonium salts containing carbohydrate moieties

Quaternary ammonium salts are widely used in industrial, agricultural, healthcare and domestic applications. They are believed to be safe compounds, with little or no health hazard to humans. However, in this report, we demonstrate that a series of newly synthesized quaternary ammonium salts containing carbohydrate moieties reveal potent mutagenic activities, as assessed by using the Vibrio harveyi bioluminescence mutagenicity test. D-Gluco- and D-galacto-derivatives were found to have a higher mutagenic potential than D-manno-derivatives. Among the former groups of compounds, the N-[2-(D-glycopyranosyloxy)ethyl]-N,N,N-trimethylaminium salts were of the highest activity in the mutagenicity assay. These results suggest that the safety of quaternary ammonium salts may be lower than previously supposed, indicating a need for testing such compounds for their mutagenicity.

Selection of low cost materials for the sorption of copper and herbicides as single or mixed compounds in increasing complexity matrices

Low cost materials (sugar beet pulp, corncob, corncob char, perlite, vermiculite, sand, sediment) have been tested for their ability to quickly sorb copper, glyphosate, diuron and 3,4-dichloroaniline (3,4-DCA) as single or mixed compounds. Tests have been performed in increasingly complex liquid matrices: ultra pure water (UPW), runoff water (RW) and sediment extract medium (SEM). Highest sorption levels in UPW are achieved with corncob char for Cu (93%), glyphosate (74%), diuron (98%) and 3,4-DCA (99%). Other ready-to-use adequate sorbents are sugar beet pulp for Cu and sand for glyphosate, diuron and 3,4-DCA. Sorption levels obtained in UPW are significantly altered in SEM as a result of its higher dissolved organic carbon concentration, tenuous changes being obtained with RW. Interactions between herbicides and Cu are pointed out: higher sorption level is observed for glyphosate in mixture with Cu, as it is observed with diuron and 3,4-DCA when mixed with all other pollutants. Langmuir model has been found to better fit the data for copper, whereas Freundlich one has been found more relevant for diuron and 3,4-DCA. Our results stress the need for studying adsorption in different matrices when searching for sorbents to be used in field conditions.

Competitive and non-competitive adsorption/desorption of paraquat, diquat and difenzoquat in vineyard-devoted soils

Mobility of agrochemicals in soils plays an important role in the fate and transport of contaminants in the environment. Competitive and non-competitive sorption experiments of three ammonium quaternary herbicides (paraquat, diquat and difenzoquat) onto eight vineyard soils was measured in batch experiments. Non-competitive experiments show that paraquat (PQ) is the most strongly adsorbed (70-97% of added PQ) followed by diquat (DQ) and difenzoquat (DFQ). The best fits were obtained with the Freundlich equation. In competitive experiments with variable mole ratios, it was found a large influence between the divalent cationic herbicides PQ and DQ, and between them and the monovalent herbicide DFQ, but DFQ did only show a scarce influence on PQ and DQ sorption. Desorption of herbicides into CaCl(2) showed very low values: around 11, 19 and 31% for, respectively, PQ, DQ and DFQ. In order to assess the ability of herbicides to displace others, desorption experiments were carried out by replacing Cl(2)Ca by any of the other two herbicides. In this case, the highest percentage of desorption was obtained when DFQ was desorbed with PQ (>72%) and DQ (>73%), but also when PQ was used to desorb DQ (100%) and vice versa (100%).

Contamination of vineyard soils with fungicides: a review of environmental and toxicological aspects

The contamination of agricultural soils with inorganic (Cu-based) and organic pesticides (including their residues) presents a major environmental and toxicological concern. This review summarizes available studies published on the contamination of vineyard soils throughout the world with Cu-based and synthetic organic fungicides. It focuses on the behavior of these contaminants in vineyard soils and the associated environmental and toxicological risks. The concentrations of Cu in soils exceed the legislative limits valid in the EU in the vast majority of the studied vineyards. Regarding the environmental and toxicological hazards associated with the extensive use of fungicides, the choice of fungicides should be performed carefully according to the physico-chemical properties of the soils and climatic and hydrogeological characteristics of the vine-growing regions.

Physicochemical study of the sorption of pesticides by wood components

The sorption-desorption and interaction mechanisms of three non-ionic (linuron, alachlor, and metalaxyl) and two ionic (paraquat and dicamba) pesticides by three commercial lignins (hydrophobic macromolecule) and cellulose (hydrophilic macromolecule) as wood components were studied. Wood is a low-cost and environmentally friendly material proposed in recent years to immobilize pesticides in soils. The influence of sorbent and pesticide properties and the identification of the functional groups of the organic molecules involved in sorption were evaluated by a statistical approach and by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The sorption isotherms of non-ionic pesticides by the lignins and cellulose fit the Freundlich model, and those of the ionic pesticides also fit the Langmuir model. The sorption constants of pesticides by cellulose were 62-, 9-, 24-, 119-, and 3-fold lower than those for the sorption by lignins. A predictive model of pesticide sorption indicated that 88.5% of the variability in the sorption coefficient normalized to the organic carbon content could be explained in terms of the variability of the polarity index and the octanol-water partition coefficient of sorbent and sorbate. The greater irreversibility observed for ionic pesticides was attributed to the involvement of simultaneous interaction mechanisms. The results obtained contribute the knowledge of sorption capacity of pesticides by lignin/cellulose, the main components of woods and ubiquitous materials in the environment.

Sorption of anionic metsulfuron-methyl and cationic difenzoquat on peat and soil as affected by copper

The effect of cationic copper (Cu2+) on the sorption of anionic metsulfuron-methyl (Me) and cationic difenzoquat (DZ) to peat and soil was studied using a batch equilibration method. The results showed that Cu2+ increased the sorption of Me but diminished the sorption of DZ. The adsorption of Cu2+ on the surface of peat and soil neutralizes the negative charge, making the zeta potential (zeta) of peat and soil less negative, consequently decreasing the repulsion between the surface of peat or soil and Me and increasing the sorption of Me. Cu2+ may additionally form Cu-Me complexes in aqueous solution, which was preferentially sorbed to peat and soil over the anionic Me. In contrast, the decreased negative surface charge of soil and peat does not favor the sorption of cationic DZ. Fourier transform infrared showed that DZ may be sorbed through interaction with -OH or -COOH groups of peat and soil and that surface complexes of Cu2+ may form through these groups. A competitive sorption between Cu2t and DZ for the same sorption sites is indicated, leading to mutual sorption inhibition of both cations.

Occurrence and downslope mobilization of quaternary herbicide residues in vineyard-devoted soils

The aim of this study was to examine the fate of quaternary herbicides in soil deposits derived from erosion of vineyard-devoted soils. Herbicide occurrence in the crop soils was due to the farmer application inputs. Special attention should be paid to the presence of paraquat (PQ) in the studied vineyard-devoted soils. The major factor governing the sorption of PQ was the solid state organic fraction with the clay mineral content also making a significant contribution. The mobilization and transport of quats-enriched soil particles may generate downslope and downstream environmental problems that mainly affect detritivore ecology.

Determination of quaternary ammonium herbicides in soils. Comparison of digestion, shaking and microwave-assisted extractions

Very challenging analytical problems arise from the continuous introduction in agriculture of chemical pesticides. Particularly, diquat (DQ), paraquat (PQ) and difenzoquat (DF) are a difficult group of quaternary ammonium herbicides to analyze. This article reviews and addresses the most relevant analytical methods for determining the selected herbicides in soil. We discuss and critically evaluate procedures, such as digestion-based methods, shaking extraction and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE). Clean-up of extracts was performed by solid-phase extraction (SPE) using silica cartridges. Detection of these herbicides was carried out by liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to UV detection and mass spectrometry (MS) as confirmatory technique. Recoveries ranged from 98% to 100% by digestion, from no recovered to 61% by shaking, and from 102% to 109% by MAE with estimated quantification limits between 1.0 microg/kg and 2.0 microg/kg by digestion and 5.0 mug/kg and 7.5 microg/kg by MAE using LC/MS-MS as detection technique. The recoveries obtained under the optimum conditions are compared and discussed with those obtained from digestion extraction and MAE.