| Abstract
| - The herbicide trifluralin (2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropyl-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzenamine) is widely used in agricultureand may pose toxic risks to some aquatic organisms.While its degradation has been investigated in field studies,this research is the first to elucidate the specific abiotictransformations that trifluralin may undergo in reducingenvironments such as flooded soils and wetland sediments.Kinetic data and product identities were determined forthe degradation of trifluralin in Fe(II)/goethite suspensionsat near-neutral pH values. Under these conditions,trifluralin is consumed rapidly through a surface-mediatedprocess that includes three distinct reactions: reductionof nitro groups, dealkylation of propylamines, and cyclizationto form benzimidazoles. All detected products are amongthose that have been reported in natural soils and sediments.Therefore, these transformation pathways may play asignificant role in affecting the fate of trifluralin in theenvironment.
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