Laboratory studies were conducted with uniformly 14C ring labeled 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) to determine degradation kinetics in a number of soils and to trace the fate of the ring carbon in the degradation process. Degradation rates were not simple first order but generally increased until -20% of the chemical remained, after which they declined. Average 50% decomposition times of 4.0 and 14 days were observed for 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T, respectively. Two major metabolites were observed in the degradation of 2,4,5-T: 2,4,5-trichlorophenol and 2,4,5-trichloroanisole. The anisole appears to be formed from the phenol through a microbial methylation process. Analogous metabolites were not observed for 2,4,-D. Soil samples containing measurable levels of 2,4,5-trichloroanisole were subjected to further studies investigating volatility. The compound was found to be quite volatile with a 50% loss time from soil of 1-3 days.
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