Degradation of metsulfuron methyl by heterogeneous photocatalysis on TiO2 in aqueous suspensions: Kinetic and analytical studies

The photocatalytic degradation of metsulfuron methyl on TiO2 in aqueous solutions leads to the occurance of several processes involving hydroxyl radicals: hydroxylation of the aromatic part, demethylation on the methoxy group and the cleavage of the sulfonyl urea bridge. The processes were shown to be efficient in pure water as well as in natural waters from the rivers Allier (Clermont-Ferrand, France) and Rio Mondego (Coimbra, Portugal).