| Due to the controversy associated with continuing the use of atrazine owing in part to its ubiquitousness in water, a comprehensive review of this herbicide including its use, properties, toxicological effects, and the efficiency of its removal using various water treatment technologies was conducted. A review of the properties and degradation under UV irradiation of its degradation product, cyanuric acid was also conducted. Atrazine has been implicated as a possible endocrine disrupting compound in animals, aquatic life and humans. There is limited information however, on the toxicity to humans of cyanuric acid. Photocatalytic processes to remove atrazine ultimately lead to cyanuric acid. A series of photochemical experiments were performed on cyanuric acid using 185/254, 254 and 350 nm wavelengths under direct photolysis and advanced/photo-oxidation (H2O2) and reduction (phenothiazine) processes. The recalcitrant nature of the s-triazine ring of cyanuric acid to these processes adds to the challenge of effectively mineralizing atrazine in water. |
