Effect of different surfactants on the mobility of selected non-ionic pesticides in soil

The influence of the surfactants tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (cationic), lauryl sulphate (anionic) and twee 80 (non-ionic) on the leaching of pesticides diazinon, atrazine, metolachlor and acephate in soil was studied by using soil thin layer chromatography, 14C-labelled pesticides and a linear analyser for measuring the mobdity parameter Rf. The results obtained are quite interesting in that they support the use of surfactants for solving soil pollution problems caused by pesticides. The increase or decrease of pesticide mobility in soil was found to depend on the chemical nature of the surfactant, its concentration in the soil or in the leaching water and the pesticide hydrophobicity. Consequent)y, the surfactant of choice and its concentration will be dictated in each case by the nature of the pesticide ulmvolved and the. specific problem faced (pesticide immobilization or leaching).