Re-analysis of experiments to quantify irreversibility of pesticide sorption-desorption in soil

Laura Suddaby, Sabine Beulke, Wendy van Beinum, Rafael Celis, William Koskinen, Colin David Brown

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Previously published research has used an isotope-exchange technique to measure irreversibility of pesticide adsorption-desorption in soil. Results indicated significant irreversibility (6-51%) in sorption in five pesticide-soil systems measured over 72 hours. Here, we propose a three-site model to re-analyse the experimental data. The model adds a slow but reversible binding on non-equilibrium sorption sites in addition to instantaneously reversible sites and irreversible sites. The model was able to match experimental data very closely, but only if irreversible sorption was assumed to be absent. Observed asymmetry in the binding of 12C- and 14C-pesticide was explained on the basis of non-attainment of sorption equilibrium over the study period. Results suggest that irreversible sorption may be less significant than previously considered with important implications for understanding the fate of pesticides in applied to soil.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2033-2038
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Volume61
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 6 Mar 2013

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