Issue 8, 2016

Occurrence and fate of nitrification and urease inhibitors in the aquatic environment

Abstract

Nitrification and urease inhibitors (NUIs) decelerate the bacterial oxidation of nitrogen species by suppressing the activity of soil microorganisms. Thus, nitrogen losses can be limited and the efficiency of nitrogen fertilizers can be increased. After application NUI transfers to surface water may occur through leaching or surface run-off. In order to assess the occurrence of nitrification and urease inhibitors in the aquatic environment a multi-analyte high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method was developed. 1H-1,2,4-Triazole and dicyandiamide (DCD) were detected for the first time in German surface waters. Only at a few sites 1H-1,2,4-triazole has been episodically detected with concentrations up to the μg L−1-range. DCD was ubiquitously present in German surface waters. An industrial site was identified as the point source of DCD being responsible for exceptionally high DCD concentrations of up to 7.2 mg L−1 in close proximity to the point of discharge. Both compounds were also detected in at least one wastewater treatment plant effluent, but their concentrations in surface waters did not correlate with those of typical markers for domestic wastewater. Other NUIs were not detected in any of the samples. Laboratory-scale batch tests proved that 1H-1,2,4-triazole and DCD are not readily biodegradable, are not prone to hydrolysis and do not tend to adsorb onto soil particles. Ozonation and activated carbon filtration proved to be ineffective for their removal.

Graphical abstract: Occurrence and fate of nitrification and urease inhibitors in the aquatic environment

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
12 jan. 2016
Accepted
01 apr. 2016
First published
08 apr. 2016

Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2016,18, 999-1010

Occurrence and fate of nitrification and urease inhibitors in the aquatic environment

M. Scheurer, H. Brauch, C. K. Schmidt and F. Sacher, Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2016, 18, 999 DOI: 10.1039/C6EM00014B

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