Advanced Search
Removal of Sulfonylurea Herbicides in Drinking Water Treatment Processes
  
View Full Text  View/Add Comment  Download reader
KeyWord:sulfonylurea herbicides; coagulation; powder activated carbon adsorption; chlorination
Author NameAffiliation
WANG Bin-nan College of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University 
LIU Guo-qiang College of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University 
XIE Wei-ping Yixing Environmental Monitoring Station of Jiangsu 
KONG De-yang Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Environmental Protection of PRC 
LU Jun-he College of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University 
Hits: 1917
Download times: 2208
Abstract:
      Sulfonylurea herbicides are used to kill broadleaf weeds and some annual grasses. The widely application of these herbicides coupled with their resistance to photolysis, hydrolysis, and microbial degradation causes serious concern. Sulfonylurea herbicides have been detected in natural waters and could be potentially exposed to human beings via portable use. Thus, the removal of 5 representative sulfonylurea herbicides in simulated water treatment processes including coagulation, activated carbon adsorption, and chlorine disinfection was systematically investigated. Results showed that coagulation/sedimentation had little effect on the removal of the herbicides, with the average removal rates less than 10%. Powder activated carbon adsorption was apparently more effective with removal rates of 50%~70%. Nonetheless, this process could not completely eliminate the herbicides from water. Sulfonylurea herbicides were nearly completely removed during chlorination process. However, it was found that this process generated stable products which may related the heterocyclic moieties of sulfonylurea molecules. In summary, current drinking water treatment processes cannot provide enough protection for human population from exposure to sulfonylurea contamination which may be a ubiquitous problem.