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

This study reports on the effect of the presence of beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) on the adsorption and mobility of the pesticide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) through soil columns. The previous application of beta-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 beta-CD adsorbed. However, the application of beta-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 beta-CD. Beta-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.