Degradation of selected phenylurea herbicides by anaerobic pond sediment.

Anaerobic degradation of diuron [3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea], monuron [3-(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea], and fenuron [1,1-dimethyl-3-phenylurea] were studied. Herbicide containing media (reduced with cysteine-HCl and under 95% N2:5% CO2 gas phase) were inoculated with pond sediments. Sediment from a diuron-treated pond dehalongenated diuron to 3-(3-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (CPDU) in 17 to 25 days but sterile sediment from the pond did not. Sediments from non-diuron treated ponds were also ineffective. Particles from diuron-treated sediment were essential for dehalogenation and they could not be replaced with other solid surfaces such as clay, sand or cellulose. Diuron was degraded by sediment at 25 and 30 degrees C (maximal rate) but not at 5, 15 and 37 degrees C after 55 days incubation. The product CPDU produced in laboratory cultures was found in sediment of the diuron-treated pond, indicating in situ reductive dechlorination. Sediment-inoculated cultures containing monuron and fenuron showed no degradation after 74 days incubation.