Adsorption of Pesticides on Soil Components

The adsorption of two pesticides (2,4-phenoxy acetic acid (2,4D) and thiabendazol) on silica, alumina, kaolin and montmorillonite is studied from adsorption isotherms and enthalpies. 2,4D is not adsorbed by silica, kaolinite and montmorillonite even in the presence of 0.01 mol l−1 divalent cations. On alumina, the energy of adsorption is comparable with that of the formation of an acid-base complex. Thiabendazol can be adsorbed on silica and clays from an ethanol solution. Most adsorption isotherms are of the Langmuir type and correspond to roughly constant adsorption enthalpies as a function of coverage except for kaolin where adsorption on both lateral and basal faces can be involved. Adsorption after introducing humic acids to the system was also studied for kaolin.