Photostabilization of quinalphos by crystal violet on the surface of kaolinite and palygorskite

Photochemical stability of the insecticide, quinalphos (O,O-diethyl O-quinoxalin-2-yl phosphorothioate), adsorbed on kaolinite and palygorskite was studied. In all cases considerable photostabilization was achieved in comparison with the sample of pesticide in its free form. Improvement of photostabilization was achieved when a cationic dye (crystal violet) was co-adsorbed with the quinalphos. The interactions between quinalphos and clays were studied by Fourier-transform infra-red spectroscopy. It is suggested that photostabilization is due to steric hindrance imposed by the clay surface to the isomerization step of photochemical reaction and pacification of clay surface by crystal violet