A degradation system using metallic iron and hydrogen peroxide (Fenton reaction) was employed for the degradation of the diuron herbicide. In order to obtain the maximum degradation the main conditions such as pH, hydrogen peroxide concentration and iron amount, were optimized. Herbicide degradation was evaluated by liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometric detection (LC-ESI-MS/MS) and total organic carbon analysis (TOC). In the best degradation condition, pH = 2.5, 2 g of iron and 2 mmol L-1 of hydrogen peroxide, after 10 min a commercial diuron solution (10 mg L-1) had no detection values for diuron and its metabolic, 3,4-dichloroaniline (3,4-DCA). The TOC was reduced to values lower than 5 mg L-1 showing the efficiency of the system.
diuron; Fenton; degradation; 3; 4-DCA; water
