In this paper, the effects of acrylamide (AAm), methylcellulose (MC) contents, pH and ionic strength on kinetic, network and hydrophilic properties of polyacrylamide and methylcellulose hydrogels were investigated. The hydrogels were characterized by evaluating of network [average molecular weight between crosslinks (M C), crosslink density (q) and the number of elastically effective chains (Ve)], and kinetic parameters [diffusional exponent (n), diffusion constant (k) and diffusion coefficient (D)]. Such properties were controlled by adjusting of the AAm, MC contents, pH and ionic strength factors. Due to high hydrophilicity and fast water-uptake, the PAAm-MC hydrogels can be considered as materials for potential applications in agricultural fields, mainly in controlled release of water or pesticides.

Electrochemical behavior of pesticides is extensively studied, but little attention has been given to the study of their degradation products (by-products) by electrochemical methods. However, the degradation products of pesticides can be even more toxic then the parent products and such studies should be encouraged. Therefore, the objective of this work was to evaluate the electroactivity of by-products of imazaquin, methylparathion, bentazon and atrazine, generated by UV irradiation and measured using cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry and UV-visible absorption spectrophotometry. Results have shown that several by-products exhibit electroactivity, allowing, in some cases, the simultaneous determination of both parent and degradation products.

A técnica de polarografia de pulso diferencial foi usada para estabelecer um procedimento eletroanalítico para a determinação do inseticida organofosforado parathion metílico (tiofosfato de dimetilparanitrofenila) em amostras de solo. Foram observados 3 picos de redução do metilparathion sobre eletrodo de mercúrio, em função do pH da solução. O pico mais catódico (Ep = -0,55 V), observado apenas em pH's maiores que 5,0, foi selecionado para as determinações analíticas. O limite de detecção encontrado foi de 1,93x10-8 mol L-1 para água pura e de cerca de 8x10-8 mol L-1 para as amostras de solo, com velocidade de varredura de 2 mV s-1 e pH da solução de 6,75. O procedimento eletroanalítico desenvolvido foi utilizado para a obtenção de isotermas de sorção do parathion metílico em 3 solos do Estado de São Paulo, com distintos teores de argila, matéria orgânica e pH. O modelo de isoterma de Freundlich apresentou um excelente ajuste aos dados experimentais e os coeficientes de Freundlich (K F) obtidos para cada solo apresentaram valores entre 7 e 29 L kg-1, sendo considerados como de baixa a média capacidade de sorção nos solos estudados, de acordo com o critério do IBAMA (Instituto Brasileiro de Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Renováveis). Os teores de matéria orgânica e argila dos solos foram os fatores que mais influenciaram a sorção do metilparathion nesses solos.

The differential pulse polarography technique was used to establish an electroanalytical procedure for the determination of the organophosphorous insecticide methyl parathion (O,O-dimethyl O-(4-nitrophenyl) phosphorothioate) in soil samples. Three reduction peaks were observed in mercury electrodes as a function of the solution pH. The more cathodic peak (Ep= -0.55V), only observed for pH values higher than 5.0, was chosen for the analytical determinations. The limit of detection was 1.93x10-8 mol L-1 for pure water and about 8x10-8 mol L-1 for soil suspensions with a scan rate of 2 mV s-1 and a pH of 6.75. The electroanalytical procedure developed was applied for the determination of sorption isotherms of methylparathion on 3 soils from São Paulo State, Brazil, at different pH and diverse amounts of clay and organic matter. The experimental data were fitted using the Freundlich isotherm model and the Freundlich coefficients (K F) obtained for each soil varied from 7 to 29 L kg-1, representing a low to medium sorption capacity, according to the IBAMA (Brazilian Environmental Protection Agency) standards. The amounts of organic matter and clay were the most important soil parameters controling the sorption of methylparathion by these soils.