Detection of halogenated biphenyls from sunlight photolysis of chlorinated herbicides in aqueous solution

Abstract

AbstractA survey study was conducted to determine the generality of chlorinated biphenyl formation from the photolysis of chlorine‐containing herbicides in aqueous solution. Seven herbicides from the phenylurea, anilide and carbamate classes were examined. In this study, the photoreaction under investigation proceeded via the coupling of two herbicide molecules to yield a chlorinated biphenyl with concomitant loss of hydrogen chloride. In preliminary studies using ultraviolet lamps, 4‐chlorophenyl methylcarbamate (PPG‐124) gave a chlorinated biphenyl with only one carbamate side chain, and chlorpropham gave no chlorinated biphenyl, but rather a hydroxylated biphenyl. Employing ultraviolet lamps or natural sunlight, photolyses of monuron, diuron, linuron, metobromuron and propanil produced halogenated biphenyls according to the photocoupling reaction under investigation. All yields of chlorinated biphenyls from sunlight photolysis were approximately 1% or lower.