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Title: Decomposition of benzidine,. cap alpha. -naphthylamine, and p-toluidine in soils

Journal Article · · J. Environ. Qual.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5944037

Decomposition of /sup 14/C-labeled benzidine, ..cap alpha..-naphthylamine, and p-toluidine in soil was studied in laboratory experiments by monitoring CO/sub 2/ production during a 308- to 365-d incubation period. The importance of microbial activity in decomposition of all three aromatic amines was shown by decreased /sup 14/CO/sub 2/ evolution in /sup 60/Co treated soils. After 365 d of incubation, 8.4 to 12% of added benzidine (54.3 ..mu..mol kg/sup -1/) was evolved as CO/sub 2/ while 17 to 31% of added ..cap alpha..-naphthylamine (69.8 ..mu..mol kg/sup -1/) and 19 to 35% of added p-toluidine (93.3 ..mu..mol kg/sup -1/) were evolved as CO/sub 2/ in 308 d. Decomposition was enhanced by increasing the temperature from 12 to 30/sup 0/C. For benzidine, both the amount and proportion decomposed increased with an increase in application rate. Decomposition of aromatic amines was not enhanced by the addition of decomposable substrates. Differences in decomposition of aromatic amines occurred among soils, but consistent relationships between decomposition of amines and soil properties were not observed. In batch equilibration studies, the Freundlich equation described aromatic amine sorption. Isotherms were nonlinear for benzidine and /sup 1/-naphthylamine and linear for p-toluidine. Desorption of sorbed amines followed the order: benzidine < p-toluidine < ..cap alpha..-naphthylamine and was inversely related to the extent of decomposition.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville
OSTI ID:
5944037
Journal Information:
J. Environ. Qual.; (United States), Vol. 15:1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English