Lithosphere-stationed fate and eco-detoxification investigation of fungicidal agent Zoxamide possessing chlorinated benzamidic genesis

The current work has attempted to assess the lithospheric fate of toxic fungicide Zoxamide in heterogeneous soils via multitude of simulated experiments for the first time. Associated experimental and analytical procedures were inclusive of Zoxamide’s pedospheric adsorption/desorption and disintegration in a hydrolytic, photolytic and bio-degradative assays considering pedospheric samples from ten geographical regions. Standard batch equilibrated procedure was adopted for sorptive interactions determination. Zoxamide sorption in the respective soils expressed complete governance by soils’ physical and chemical characteristics expressive of the fragile physisorption reflected via negative Gibbs free energy signifying an exothermic response. Variations observed for the adsorption coefficient were from 2.5 to 25 µg/ml with the R2 ranging between 0.90 and 0.99 expressing significance of results. Biotic and abiotic ecological factors’ implications on Zoxamide’s presence in pedosphere were assessed via hydrolysis, photolysis and bio-degradative procedures. Ultraviolet visible spectrophotometer- and gas chromatography and mass spectrometry-based analysis was conducted for determination of Zoxamide’s response. Minimum half-life obtained for hydrolytic, biodegradation and photolytic assays was 17.6, 15.7 and 4.3 days, respectively, while the highest was 21.9, 22.2 and 7.4 days, respectively. Results of current investigation were indicative of the medium extent binding, an alleviated Zoxamide persistence in soil samples and remarkable susceptibility toward physicochemical and biochemical transformation pathways.