Atrazine Hydrolysis in Soils: Catalysis by the Acidic Functional Groups of Fulvic Acid

The catalysis of atrazine hydrolysis at 25.0 °C by the types of acidic functional groups found in humic materials has been investigated. No evidence of catalysis by carboxylate ions was observed. From a knowledge of the types and numbers of acid functional groups in a quantitatively characterized fulvic acid, and the distributions of their KA values it was found that hydrogen ions and undissociated carboxyl groups were the only catalytic agents. The carboxyl groups have a second-order kAH of 7.88 days −1∙M−1. Weakly acidic functional groups having [Formula: see text]showed no catalysis. A predictive equation has been produced for the half-life of atrazine in fulvic acid solutions at 25.0 °C. It represents a general class of equations which should permit the practical prediction of atrazine persistence in soil solutions and other natural waters.