In this study, high-performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-HRMS, Q-Exactive Orbitrap) and Compound Discoverer 3.3 were used to screen dimethachlon degradation products in soils. Four metabolites 4-(3,5-dichloroanilino)-4-oxobutanoic acid (DCBAA), 3,5-dichloroaniline (3,5-DCA), succinic acid, and muconic acid were confirmed by primary and secondary ion mass spectrometry comparisons between standards and samples. A quantitative analysis method of dimethachlon residues and four metabolites in soils was developed using HPLC-HRMS. Dimethachlon degradation in agricultural soil indoor unsterilized, sterilized, and field environments in three typical areas was measured. Dimethachlon degraded fast with a half-life of less than 1 day in three nonsterile soils. The maximum DCBAA and 3,5-DCA residues during degradation could reach 22.5-35.2% of the initial concentration of the parent dimethachlon. The metabolite DCBAA had a greater impact on soil enzyme activity than the parent dimethachlon.
Keywords: degradation; dimethachlon; metabolites; soil enzyme activity.