Laboratory degradation studies were performed in Norwegian soils using two commercial formulations (Tilt and Triagran-P) containing either propiconazole alone or a combination of bentazone, dichlorprop, and MCPA. These soils included a fine sandy loam from Hole and a loam from Kroer, both of which are representative of Norwegian agricultural soils. The third soil was a highly decomposed organic material from the Froland forest. A fourth soil from the Skuterud watershed was used only for propiconazole degradation. After 84 d, less than 0.1% of the initial MCPA concentration remained in all three selected soils. For dichlorprop, the same results were found for the fine sandy loam and the organic-rich soil, but in the loam, 26% of the initial concentration remained. After 84 d, less than 0.1% of the initial concentration of bentazone remained in the organic-rich soil, but in the loam and the fine sandy loam 52 and 69% remained, respectively. Propiconazole was shown to be different from the other pesticides by its persistence. Amounts of initial concentration remaining varied from 40, 70, and 82% in the reference soils after 84 d for the organic-rich soil, fine sandy loam, and loam, respectively. The organic-rich soil showed the highest capacity to decompose all four pesticides. The results from the agricultural soils and the Skuterud watershed showed that the persistence of propiconazole was high. Pesticide degradation was approximated to first-order kinetics. Slow rates of degradation, where more than 50% of the pesticide remained in the soil after the 84-d duration of the experiment, did not fit well with first-order kinetics.

Sorption-desorption kinetic and isotherm studies were performed by the batch equilibrium technique in three Norwegian soils. The soils were a fine sandy loam, a loam, and a soil of highly decomposed organic material. Two commercially formulations were used, Triagran-P and Tilt, containing either a mixture of bentazone [3-isopropyl-1H-2, 1,3-benzothiadiazin-4(3H)-one 2,2-dioxide], dichlorprop [(R)-2-(2, 4-dichlorophenoxy)-propionic acid], and MCPA [(4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)acetic acid], or propiconazole [(+/-)1-(2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-propyl-1,3-dioxolan-2-ylmethyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole] alone. Sorption-desorption equilibrium occurred within 10 h for all pesticides. The Freundlich isotherms indicated nonlinear sorption of bentazone, dichlorprop, MCPA, and propiconazole. For all pesticides the highest Freundlich adsorption coefficient (K(F)) values were in the soil with highest organic content and lowest pH. For the fine sandy loam and loam, which are representative Norwegian agricultural soils, the results indicate that bentazone, dichlorprop, and MCPA are mobile with KF values ranging from 0.07 to 1.50 mg1-1/n kg(-1) L1/n. Propiconazole is much less mobile with KF values ranging from 27.00 to 36.02 mg1-1/n kg(-1) L1/n in the agricultural soils.

A rapid solid-phase extraction (SPE) method was developed for the determination of bentazone and the phenoxy acids 2,4-D, dichlorprop, MCPA, and mecoprop in Norwegian environmental water samples. Cartridges with a high-capacity cross-linked polystyrene-based polymer were used for off-line preconcentration. The effects of elution solvent, elution volume, sample volume, sorbent mass, pH, and flow rate on the recoveries of the pesticides were investigated using HPLC. Average recovery of >90% was achieved with 500 mg sorbents using 2 mL of methanol with 5% NH3 as elution solvent. The recoveries were independent of sample pH in the tested range of pH 1-7. Using a sample volume of 200 mL, the limits of determination for the phenoxy acids and bentazone are 0.02 microg/L. Sample volumes up to 2000 mL at a flow rate of 60 mL/min could be handled without any loss of analytes, which makes it possible to lower the limits of determination. The SPE method was compared to a routinely used liquid-liquid extraction method. Three different water matrices spiked at 1.0 and 0.05 microg/L were extracted, and the quantification was performed by GC-MS. Both methods permitted the determination of phenoxy acids and bentazone in distilled water, creek water, and well water down to a level of 0.05 microg/L with recoveries >80% for 200 mL samples. Important advantages of the SPE method compared to the liquid-liquid extraction method were the short extraction times, lack of emulsions, use of disposable equipment, and reduced consumption of organic solvents.

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