Photochemistry in Hoagland's nutrient solution

Atrazine photodegraded (in the absence of plants) in Hoagland's hydroponic medium in sunlight. The medium contained two important solar UV absorbing species, complexed iron and nitrate. Increasing the concentrations of iron or of nitrate resulted in increased rates of atrazine loss. Increasing the concentration of trace elements copper, manganese, and zinc had little effect on the photodegradation rate. The pathway may involve the reaction of hydroxyl radicals produced by the photolysis of nitrate and/or iron with atrazine.