Photodegradation of sulcotrione in various aquatic environments and toxicity of its photoproducts for some marine micro-organisms

Photochemical behaviour of sulcotrione, a triketone herbicide, was studied in a variety of aqueous solutions including natural waters (sea and river) under laboratory conditions. Photodegradation experiments were carried out under two irradiation systems (UV-B and simulated solar radiation) in order to evaluate kinetics of active ingredient. The degradation kinetics, more rapid under UV-B radiation than solar simulator, followed a first-order reaction (photolysis half-lives ranged between 3 and 50 h) and appeared strongly dependent on water origin, pH value and molecular structure of the herbicide. Dissolved organic matter showed a retarding effect while low concentrations of nitrate ions had no effect on photolysis rate. Identification of photoproducts indicated that hydrolysis, a pH-dependent process (no degradation at pH >6 but at pH=3, k=0.0344 h(-1)), could be photoassisted. These results were compared to those of mesotrione, another triketone herbicide, which appeared more stable under UV-B irradiation. Toxicological studies on two marine heterotrophic bacteria and one cyanobacterium showed absence of effects up to 100 microgL(-1) for both sulcotrione and its photoproducts.