Leaching of 2,4-D from a soil in the presence of β-cyclodextrin: laboratory columns experiments

This study reports on the effect of the presence of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) on the adsorption and mobility of the pesticide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) through soil columns. The previous application of β-CD to the soil produced a retarded leaching of 2,4-D through the soil column, due probably to herbicide adsorption on the soil through β-CD adsorbed. However, the application of β-CD solution to the soil column where 2,4-D had been previously adsorbed, led to the complete desorption of the herbicide, due to the formation of water-soluble 1:1 inclusion complexes between 2,4-D and β-CD. β-CD can be viewed as a microscopic organic-phase extractant. It can be an advantage to remove from soil pesticides which are able to form inclusion complexes with cyclodextrins, making them possible candidates for use in in situ remediation efforts.