Degradation of alachlor herbicide by gamma radiation from cobalt-60 in aqueous and alcohol solution

Alachlor has been widely used in agriculture all over the world. It is suggested that it may be a carcinogen and an environmental estrogen. The aim of this work was to verify the degradation the alachlor by gamma radiation. Gamma radiation from ⁶⁰Co was used to degrade the alachlor herbicide in water and methanol solution. The alachlor in water and alcohol solution in the concentration of 100 mgL⁻¹ was irradiated with doses of 0.25–50 kGy, at dose rate 5–6 and 2.7 kGyh⁻¹. High performance liquid chromatography was used as an analytical technique to determine the degradation rate of herbicide studied.