Surface modification of alumina nanofibres for the selective adsorption of alachlor and imazaquin herbicides

The effective removal of pollutants using a thermally and chemically stable substrate that has controllable absorption properties is a goal of water treatment. In this study, the surfaces of thin alumina (γ-Al2O3) nanofibres were modified by the grafting either of two organosilane agents, 3-chloro-propyl-triethoxysilane (CPTES) and octyl-triethoxysilane (OTES). These modified materials were then trialed as absorbents for the removal of two herbicides, alachlor and imazaquin from water. The formation of organic groups during the functionalisation process established super hydrophobic sites on the surfaces of the nanofibres. This super hydrophobic group is a kind of protruding adsorption site which facilitates the intimate contact with the pollutants. OTES grafted substrate were shown to be more selective for alachlor while imazaquin selectivity is shown by the CPTES grafted substrate. Kinetics studies revealed that imazaquin was rapidly adsorbed on CPTES-modified surfaces. However, the adsorption of alachlor by OTES grafted surface was achieved more slowly.

Impacts of tillage and application methods on atrazine and alachlor losses from upland fields: Research paper

The effects of tillage practises and the methods of chemical application on atrazine and alachlor losses through run-off were evaluated for five treatments: conservation (untilled) and surface (US), disk and surface, plow and surface, disk and preplant-incorporated, and plow and preplant-incorporated treatments. A rainfall simulator was used to create 63.5 mm h^-1 of rainfall for 60 min and 127 mm h^-1 for 15 min. Rainfall simulation occurred 24-36 h after chemical application. There was no significant difference in the run-off volume among the treatments but the untilled treatment significantly reduced erosion loss. The untilled treatments had the highest herbicide concentration and the disk treatments were higher than the plow treatments. The surface treatments showed a higher concentration than the incorporated treatments. The concentration of herbicides in the water decreased with time. Among the experimental sites, the one with sandy loam soil produced the greatest losses, both in terms of the run-off volume and herbicide loss. The US treatments had the highest loss and the herbicide incorporation treatments had smaller losses through run-off as the residue cover was effective in preventing herbicide losses. Incorporation might be a favorable method of herbicide application to reduce the herbicide losses by run-off.

Degradation of alachlor herbicide by gamma radiation from cobalt-60 in aqueous and alcohol solution

Alachlor has been widely used in agriculture all over the world. It is suggested that it may be a carcinogen and an environmental estrogen. The aim of this work was to verify the degradation the alachlor by gamma radiation. Gamma radiation from (60)Co was used to degrade the alachlor herbicide in water and methanol solution. The alachlor in water and alcohol solution in the concentration of 100 mgL(-1) was irradiated with doses of 0.25-50 kGy, at dose rate 5-6 and 2.7 kGyh(-1). High performance liquid chromatography was used as an analytical technique to determine the degradation rate of herbicide studied.

Alachlor, position document 1.

Mode of access: Internet.

Transcriptional profiling in Saccharomyces cerevisiae relevant for predicting alachlor mechanisms of toxicity

Alachlor has been a commonly applied herbicide and is a substance of ecotoxicological concern. The present study aims to identify molecular biomarkers in the eukaryotic model Saccharomyces cerevisiae that can be used to predict potential cytotoxic effects of alachlor, while providing new mechanistic clues with possible relevance for experimentally less accessible eukaryotes. It focuses on genome-wide expression profiling in a yeast population in response to two exposure scenarios exerting effects from slight to moderate magnitude at phenotypic level. In particular, 100 and 264 genes, respectively, were found as differentially expressed on a 2-h exposure of yeast cells to the lowest observed effect concentration (110 mg/L) and the 20% inhibitory concentration (200 mg/L) of alachlor, in comparison with cells not exposed to the herbicide. The datasets of alachlor-responsive genes showed functional enrichment in diverse metabolic, transmembrane transport, cell defense, and detoxification categories. In general, the modifications in transcript levels of selected candidate biomarkers, assessed by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, confirmed the microarray data and varied consistently with the growth inhibitory effects of alachlor. Approximately 16% of the proteins encoded by alachlor-differentially expressed genes were found to share significant homology with proteins from ecologically relevant eukaryotic species. The biological relevance of these results is discussed in relation to new insights into the potential adverse effects of alachlor in health of organisms from ecosystems, particularly in worst-case situations such as accidental spills or careless storage, usage, and disposal.

Nanostructured metal oxides as adsorbents and photocatalysts

This research underlines the extensive application of nanostructured metal oxides in environmental systems such as hazardous waste remediation and water purification. This study tries to forge a new understanding of the complexity of adsorption and photocatalysis in the process of water treatment. Sodium niobate doped with a different amount of tantalum, was prepared via a hydrothermal reaction and was observed to be able to adsorb highly hazardous bivalent radioactive isotopes such as Sr2+ and Ra2+ions. This study facilitates the preparation of Nb-based adsorbents for efficiently removing toxic radioactive ions from contaminated water and also identifies the importance of understanding the influence of heterovalent substitution in microporous frameworks. Clay adsorbents were prepared via a two-step method to remove anionic and non-ionic herbicides from water. Firstly, layered beidellite clay was treated with acid in a hydrothermal process; secondly, common silane coupling agents, 3-chloro-propyl trimethoxysilane or triethoxy silane, were grafted onto the acid treated samples to prepare the adsorption materials. In order to isolate the effect of the clay surface, we compared the adsorption property of clay adsorbents with ƒ×-Al2O3 nanofibres grafted with the same functional groups. Thin alumina (£^-Al2O3) nanofibres were modified by the grafting of two organosilane agents 3-chloropropyltriethoxysilane and octyl triethoxysilane onto the surface, for the adsorptive removal of alachlor and imazaquin herbicides from water. The formation of organic groups during the functionalisation process established super hydrophobic sites along the surfaces and those non-polar regions of the surfaces were able to make close contact with the organic pollutants. A new structure of anatase crystals linked to clay fragments was synthesised by the reaction of TiOSO4 with laponite clay for the degradation of pesticides. Based on the Ti/clay ratio, these new catalysts showed a high degradation rate when compared with P25. Moreover, immobilized TiO2 on laponite clay fragments could be readily separated out from a slurry system after the photocatalytic reaction. Using a series of partial phase transition methods, an effective catalyst with fibril morphology was prepared for the degradation of different types of phenols and trace amount of herbicides from water. Both H-titanate and TiO2-(B) fibres coated with anatase nanocrystal were studied. When compared with a laponite clay photocatalyst, it was found that anatase dotted TiO2-(B) fibres prepared by a 45 h hydrothermal treatment followed by calcination were not only superior in performance in photocatalysis but could also be readily separated from a slurry system after photocatalytic reactions. This study has laid the foundation for the development of the ability to fabricate highly efficient nanostructured solids for the removal of radioactive ions and organic pollutants from contaminated water. These results now seem set to contribute to the development of advanced water purification devices in the future. These modified nanostructured materials with unusual properties have broadened their application range beyond their traditional use as adsorbents, to also encompass the storage of nuclear waste after concentrating from contaminated water.

Influencia de diferentes controles de malezas sobre el comportamiento de malezas y el crecimiento del frijol (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) c.v. Revolución 81

El ensayo fue realizado en época de postrera del año 1988 en la estación experimental Campos Azules (Masatepe). Situada a 480 m.s.n.m con Latitud de 11º54 Norte y 89º09 Este. El factor en estudio en A (Control de malezas), al: Alachor (1 1/ha) pre-emergente, a2: Fluazifop-butil más Metalachor (0.125 +1.2 1/ha) post –emergente fase fenológica V3/V4, a3: Limpias a los 8, 14,22,28,35,42, y 49 dias despuae de la siembra con Azadón. Bajo la influencia del control con Alachlor (1 1/ha) pre emergente, presento la mayor abundancia, encontrándose de igual) forma la mayor dominancia al momento de la cosecha. Con Fluazifop-butil + Metalochor (0.125 +1.2 1/ha) post-emergente, fase fenologica3/V4, presentó menos abundancia y dominancia comparado con Alachor; y el control mecánico bajo limpias periódicas dejó la menos abundancia y dominancia al momento de la cosecha. Las especies más abundantes resultaron ser las más dominantes .Etos son: La asociación Setaria sp y Anthephora hermafrodita, Melandopiuun divaricatum, Eleusine indica, Cynodon dactylon y Walteria am3ericana en los tratamiento con ALachor (1 1/ha) pre-emergente y limpias periódicas. La atura del frijol (phaseolus vulgaris L.) no fue influencia por los diferentes métodos de control de malezas demostrando así la buena adaptación de estas variables a condiciones de competencia: El diámetro del tallo y el peso del frijol, reaccionaron significativamente a la competencia de las malezas siendo el control mecánico el más efectivo.

Dinámica de malezas en los cultivos de frijol (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) var. Rev. 82 y habichuela (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) var. Harvester

El ensayo fue realizado en la época de postrera de 1987 en la estación experimental Raúl González del valle de Sébaco, situada a 457 m.s.n.m con latitud 12º 54 norte y una longitud de 86º 11 oeste. Los factores estudiado fueron A (cultivo); a1-frijol. A2 Habichuela. El factor (control); b1 Alachlor 1t/Ha en pre –emergencia, b2- Control con azadón en V3/V4 y b3-limpias a los 23 y 50 días después de la siembre. El frijol se sembró a 0.4m entre hilera dejando 20 semillas por medio lineal y la habichuela a 0.6 m entre hilera dejando 20 semillas por medio lineal y la habichuela a 0.6 m ente hilera y 0.1 m entre planta. La siembra se hizo el 1 de Agosto, antes de la siembra se aplicó 158 Kg / ha de la fórmula 10-30-110 ambos cultivos: el ensayo se estableció en un diseño de parcelas divididas con 4 réplicas con el objetivo de determinar la influencia de diferentes métodos de control sobre la abundancia, dominancia y dinámica de malezas; determinar la influencia de Phaseolus vulgaris L. sobre el comportamiento de las malezas. Los resultados fueron: al momento de la cosecha, el control mecánico en V3/v4 presento mayor abundancia y peso seco de malezas en frijol y habichuelas; con Alachor 1 1t/ha en pre emergencia se encontró menor abundancia en ambos cultivos. Al realizar limpias a los 23 y 50 días después de la siembra se encontró menor peso seco de malezas en el cultivo de frijol: las especies más abundantes fueron las más dominantes estos son Cyperun rotundus L. echinochloa oolonum, Digitaría sanhuinalis, Phyllancthus amarus y boerhavia erecta, en el cultivo de frijol , mientras que en habichuela las anteriores fueron las más abundantes y dominantes a excepción de Boerhavia erecta, que logro sustituirla kallstroemia máxima bajo el efecto de mayor población de phaseolus vulgaris se disminuyó la abundancia, dominancia y diversidad de especies de malezas. El cultivo de habichuela presento un 73% más de abundancia y un 57% más de dominancia de malezas que el cultivo de frijol establecido en mayor población.

Evaluación de cuatro herbicidas en el control de malezas y su influencia sobre el rendimiento del Capsicum annum L. cv. California wonder

En la estación experimental “Raúl González a. “ del valle de sebaco, Matagalpa, se comparó el efecto de tres diferente dosis de napropemida, trifluralina, metribuzin, alachlor, y dos testigo uno deshierbado y otro en hierba do en el cultivo del capaicum annum l.c.v “ california wender, bajo condiciones de riego, con el objetivo de determinar las dosis que permitieron obtener los mayores rendimiento y un control eficaz de las malezas. La siembra se realizo en forma directa el 12 de enero de 1987, concluyendo el ensayo en mayo del mismo año. Napropamida en pre-emergencia a dosis de 0.351 y 0.702 kg/ha, trifluralina en pre siembra incorporada a 0.674 kg/ha y metribuzin en pre-emergencia a razón de 0.049 kg/ha permitieron rendimiento de 4.49, 4.05, 3.98 y 4 t/ha respectivamente: siendo estos inferiores al testigo deshierbado cuyo rendimiento fue de 8.17 t/ha. Las tres dosis de metrbuzin presentaron el mejor control sobre la asociación de malezas presente, sin embargo, resultaron toxicas al cultivo.

Control de malezas en el cultivo de la soya (Glycine max L. Merril) variedad (Biloxi y hardee) 69-341

En el Centro Experimental Agropecuario La Calera, Managua, Nicaragua, se estableció en siembra de agosto a noviembre de 1976, un ensayo para determinar el tratamiento mas efectivo y rentable en el control de las malezas del cultivo de la soya (Glycine max L. Merril). Se escogió la variedad (Biloxi x Hardee) 69-341 de crecimiento determinado y ciclo vegetativo intermedio de 90-100 días. Los tratamientos que se evaluaron fueron los siguientes: Alachlor, Metribuzin, Linuron, Trifluralina, Alachlor + Metribuzin, Alachlor + Linuron, Alachlor + Trifluralina, Metribuzin + Lanuron, Metribuzin + Trifluralina, Linuron + Trifluralina en dosis de 2049,5 ml, 497,70 g, 966,00 g, 533,75 ml, 1024,75 ml + 248,85 g, 1024,75 ml + 483,00 g, 1024,75 ml + 266,87 ml, 248,85 g + 483,00 g, 248,85 g + 266,87 ml y 483,00 g, + 266,87 ml, por hectárea respectivamente, usando como comparadores un tratamiento mecánico y un testigo absoluto. Los tratamientos fueron distribuidos en un diseño de bloques completos al azar, con cuatro repeticiones. La parcela experimental consto de ocho surcos de cinco metros de largo, espaciados a cincuenta centímetros entre si y a 2,50 centímetros entre planta, correspondiendo a la parcela útil los cuatro surcos centrales a los cuales se les elimino 50,0 centímetros en cada extremo. El análisis de varianza practicado en los rendimientos de granos y en los porcentajes de control de malezas determino diferencia altamente significativa entre tratamientos al nivel de 0,01 de probabilidad de error. La mezcla de Alachlor + Metribuzin fue el tratamiento herbicida que ejerció el mayor control sobre gramíneas y hojas ancha, con 97,00 por ciento de control hasta los 60 días de emergida la soya. Los tratamientos Metribuzin, Metribuzin + Trifluralina y Alachlor fueron estadisticamente igual al nivel del 0,05 de probabilidad de error con: 74,00; 72,00 y 71;00 por ciento. Los tratamientos que menor porcentaje de control de malezas ejercieron hasta los 60 dias fueron Linuron y Linuron + Trifluralina con 34.00 por ciento. Los mayores rendimientos significativos de grano de soya, se lograron con: testigo mecanico, Alachlor + Metribuzin, Alachlor, y Alachlor + Linuron obteniendo 2,539.00, 2.294.00, 2.279.00 y 2.194.00 kilogramos por hectárea respectivamente. Los menores rendimientos correspondieron a: Trifluralina con 1,103.00 hectarea y testigo absoluto con 844.00 por hectarea. El analisis economico de los rendimientos por tratamiento, revelo que los mayores ingresos netos se obtuvieron con: testigo mecánico, Alachlor + Metribuzin, y Alachlor y Alachlor + Linuron de: 1,945.22, 1,800.12, 1,771.87 y 1,668.31 córdobas por hectárea respectivamente, pero la mayor relación beneficio-costo se logro con los tratamientos Alachlor, Alachlor + Metribuzin, testigo mecánico y Alachlor + Linuron, con 2.31, 2.30, 2.23 y 2.21 respectivamente.

Comportamento de baixas doses de herbicidas na cultura da soja (Glycine max (L.) Merril). I I-Efeitos sobre o controle das plantas daninhas, desenvolvimento e absorção de nutrientes pela cultura

Foi estudada a possibilidade de redução nas doses recomendadas de herbicidas, isolados ou em misturas, sem afetar algumas características das plantas de soja (Santa Rosa), tais como o acúmulo total de matéria secada parte aérea (caule + ramos, folhas e vagens), índice de Area Foliar (IAF) e teores de macro e micronutrientes (Diagnose Foliar e nos grãos). O experimento foi ins talado em Solo Latos - sol Vermelho Escuro - fase arenosa, município de Jaboticabal, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos ao acaso, em vinte tratamentos e três repetições, te stando-se a dose total recomendad a e reduções de 25% e 50% de la , para o trifluralin, alachlor e metribuzin, isolados e em misturas. As doses recomendadas foram 0,86; 1,72 e 0,28 kg/ha de trifluralin, alachlor e metribuzin, respectivamente. As 'misturas com doses reduzidas, de tri - fluralin + metribuzin (0 ,6 5 + 0, 21 kg/h a) e alachlor + metribuzin (1 ,4 4 + 0, 21 kg /h a), apresentaram controle geral das plantas daninhas acima de 90% at é o 60 .° dia após a semeadura, sem apresentar fitotoxicida de ou efeitos deletérios nas plantas de soja. Além disso apresenta ram os melhores resultados relativos ao acúmulo de matéria seca na parte aérea, juntamente com as mesmas misturas nas doses padrões e testemunha capinada. A absorção de nutrientes também sempre foi maior nestes tratamentos , com maiores teores nas folhas, na matéria seca geral e nos grãos. O IAF alto e a sua manutenção por um período maior, nestes tratamentos, podem ter tido influência decisiva, com maior eficiência fotossintética das plantas.

Seletividade de herbicidas pré-emergentes para gramíneas forrageiras tropicais

Este trabalho constou de quatro estudos que foram realizados em casa de vegetação, nos quais se avaliou a seletividade de diferentes herbicidas, aplicados em pré-emergência, sobre algumas gramíneas forrageiras tropicais: Brachiaria decumbens, Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu e Panicum maximum cultivares Tanzânia e Mombaça. Os herbicidas e as doses utilizadas, em g ha-1, para cada estudo foram: alachlor - 1.680 e 3.360, metolachlor - 1.200 e 2.400, diuron - 800 e 1.600, imazaquin - 75 e 150, imazapyr - 250 e 500, imazethapyr - 50 e 100, clomazone - 450 e 900, flumetsulam - 70 e 140, ametryn - 625 e 1.250, metribuzin - 525 e 1.050 e trifluralin - 900 e 1.800, além de uma testemunha sem aplicação de herbicidas. Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, com seis repetições. O consumo de calda de aplicação foi de 180 L ha-1,e a barra de aplicação continha quatro bicos de jato plano tipo 'Teejet' 110.02, espaçados de 0,50 m. Avaliou-se visualmente a intoxicação das plantas através de uma escala percentual de notas e, no final dos estudos, a altura e o peso de matéria seca de plantas. Para P. maximum cv. Mombaça, apenas os herbicidas imazaquin (75 g ha-1), imazethapyr e flumetsulam, em ambas as doses testadas, foram seletivos. Para P. maximum cv. Tanzânia, nenhum dos herbicidas testados foi totalmente seletivo. em relação a B. decumbens, os herbicidas imazaquin e imazethapyr, em ambas as doses, e ametryn (625 g ha¹) foram seletivos. No caso de B. brizantha, os herbicidas diuron (800 g ha¹), ametryn, imazaquin, imazethapyr e flumetsulam, em ambas as doses, apresentaram-se seletivos.

Bioaccumulation of chlorinated pesticides and PCBs in the tropical freshwater fish Hoplias malabaricus: Histopathological, physiological, and immunological findings

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Controle de plantas daninhas na cultura do algodoeiro (Gossypium hirsutum L.) em solo anteriormente ocupado por vegetação de Cerrado

Estudou-se os efeitos de herbicidas, isolados ou combinados, na cultura do algodão (Gossypium hirsutum L.) e eficiência no controle das plantas daninhas. O experimento foi conduzido na Fazenda de Ensino e Pesquisa da Faculdade de Engenharia de Ilha Solteira - UNESP em solo Latossolo Vermelho Escuro franco argilo-arenoso, localizada no município de Selvíria, Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil. Os tratamentos testados com as doses em kg i.a/ha foram: alachlor a 2,15 e 2,58 em pré-emergência (pré), trifluralina a 0,96 em pré-plantio incorporado ao solo (ppi) isolada ou combinada com MSMA a 1,89, ou bentazon a 0,72 ou diuron a 1,20 em pós-emergência (pós) em jato dirigido, MSMA a 2,52 em pós, linuron a 1,0 em pré diuron a 1,6 em pré ou pós e testemunhas com e sem capina. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso com doze tratamentos e quatro repetições. As aplicações em ppi e a semeadura foram realizadas dia 11. 12.81 e as em pré dia 18.12.81, com um pulverizador costal de pressão constante (CO2) de 30 1b/pol2, com barra de quatro bicos tipo leque Albuz verde e consumo de calda de 250 l/ha. As aplicações em pós foram realizadas. no dia 27.12.81, com o mesmo pulverizador com um bico tipo defletor, polijet azul, com protetor de jato, com pressão de 40 1b/pol2 e consumo de 500 I/ha. As espécies dominantes foram capim - colchão (Digitaria sangnalis (L.) Scop) e caruru (Amaranthus viridis L.) que foram excelentemente controladas, até 90 dias após a semeadura, por alachlor, diuron em pré, trifluralina + diuron, que reduziram mais de 80% do peso da biomassa seca da parte aérea destas. Os herbicidas não causaram fitotoxicidade à cultura. A presença das plantas daninhas reduziu em 58,9% a produção de algodão em caroço.