Degradation of a glyphosate-based herbicide using different ADE compositions

• Grant number: 06/00862-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2006
• End date: December 31, 2006
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Adalgisa Rodrigues de Andrade
• Grantee: Sidney de Aquino Neto
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In this Project we propose to investigate the use of metallic oxide containing RuO2 to electro oxidize Glyphosate herbicides, the aim of this investigation is to achieve complete degradation of the toxic compound or to lower the toxic levels of the byproducts formed. The environmental impact increases the demand of find new routes for degradation of Glyphosate herbicides. This herbicide is highly used in Brazil and worldwide, and is toxic to the environment mainly to organism aquatic. Taken this into consideration this project propose oxidize Glyphosate using a series of electrodes containing conductive metallic oxides which have been prepared in our laboratory. The electrochemical characterization will be performed using cyclic voltammetry that gives the oxidation and reduction potentials of the Glyphosate as a function of the anode material investigated. Also it will performed investigation varying the support electrolyte used. Electrolysis in function of current and potential applied will give the electrical efficiency of the process. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of the products will be performed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and total organic carbon (TOC) analyses. The , measurement of the toxicity of the effluent will be performed using Daphnia similis and E. coli test. All these experiments is an excellent introduction to research practice in an undergraduate course.