Imidazolinone and triazine herbicides in soils in relation to the complexes formed with Cu(II) ions

Imidazolinone and triazine herbicides are used in many countries and may have a great impact on metal biocycles in soil. This article deals with the dynamics of imidazolinone and triazine herbicides in soils related to the formation of complexes with Cu(II) ions, which can be very stable. The stability constants of the complexes formed by five imidazolinone herbicides and ten triazine herbicides with Cu(II) ions are determined by means of fast, easy, and inexpensive measurements performed by ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, for imidazolinones, and voltammetry (cyclic and differential pulse), for triazines. Because of the occurrence of dissociation reactions, the determinations were performed at three pH values for imidazolinones and at one pH value for triazines. In aqueous solutions of 5 < pH < 10 (corresponding to the majority of soils of agricultural use), the herbicides form very stable complexes with the Cu(II) ions, the complexes being integrated by two ligands (herbicides) and one copper ion. In conclusion, crops treated with such herbicides in conjunction with Cu(II) salts experience a decrease in its persistence and effectiveness. In addition, the herbicides and the copper ions may pass to the phreatic layer of the soil, increasing the chance of pollution.