Studies on the Stability of Organomercuric Pesticides Part II

Photolysis of Organomercuric Pesticides

Abstract

Photolysis of some organomercuric compounds and phenyl mercuric acetate dust formulations by ultraviolet light was studied. The material was illuminated with the ultraviolet light (Toshiba GL-15, 2, 537 Å; Toshiba FL-20 E, 3, 100 Å; Toshiba FL-BLB, 3, 420 Å) and sunlight. For the purpose of determination of the strength of the ultraviolet light, was used marachite green leucocyanide as an actinometer. Decomposition rate of the material was determined by Polarography.
It was found that the selection of the wave length of the light was important for photolytic experiments and FL-20 E was suitable for our study. It has been shown that polarograms of R•Hg•X type organomercuric compounds generally have two waves in the alkaline solutions. Second wave of some compounds, in the used material however, disappeared after illumination with the ultraviolet light of sunlight. The mechanism of this reaction is uncertain.