Transformation of chemical contaminants by biotic and abiotic processes in water and soil

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0045-6535(94)90129-5

In contrast to biological processes, which can give rise to only a limited amount of transformation because of the biostability of many persistent organic chemicals, abiotic environmental factors (solar radiation) make an appreciable contribution to the transformation of these substances in the environment. In this context, abiotic transformation of organic chemicals should be investigated with particular consideration to the dynamic and catalytic effects due primarily to the state of the molecule and its interaction with the environment. Our investigation demonstrate that selected chemical substances can be degraded and mineralized within relatively short periods if irradiated with light of wavelenghts λ ≥ 290 nm. The present investigations deals with the fate of selected s-triazines in soil and under simulated solar light in the presence of TiO₂ and soil suspension.