ATRAZINE

Atrazine is a selective systemic chlorinated s-triazine herbicide used to control annual broadleaf weeds and certain annual grasses.
Its combination of root uptake, upward translocation and soil residual activity supports pre-emergence and early post-emergence weed management in authorised crops.
Technical Atrazine is an active-ingredient manufacturing material for registered pesticide formulations and is not a ready-to-apply field product.

CHEMICAL IDENTITY AND COMMON NAMES

Atrazine is 6-chloro-N2-ethyl-N4-(propan-2-yl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine, a substituted 1,3,5-triazine containing one chlorine atom and two different alkylamino groups.
The name Atrazine distinguishes this asymmetric ethylamino-isopropylamino compound from related symmetric triazines such as simazine and propazine.

Synonyms and Common Names: Atrazin, Atrazina, 2-Chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-s-triazine, 2-Chloro-4-(ethylamino)-6-(isopropylamino)-1,3,5-triazine, 2-Chloro-4-isopropylamino-6-ethylamino-s-triazine, 2-Chloro-4-ethylamino-6-(1-methylethylamino)-s-triazine, 6-Chloro-N2-ethyl-N4-(propan-2-yl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine, 6-Chloro-N2-ethyl-N4-isopropyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine, 6-Chloro-N-ethyl-N′-(1-methylethyl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine, N2-Ethyl-6-chloro-N4-isopropyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine, N-Ethyl-N′-isopropyl-6-chloro-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine, s-Triazine, 2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-

TECHNICAL IDENTIFICATION

CAS Number: 1912-24-9
EC / EINECS Number: 217-617-8
Molecular Formula: C8H14ClN5
Molar Mass: 215.68 g/mol
IUPAC Name: 6-Chloro-N2-ethyl-N4-(propan-2-yl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine
Chemical Class: Chlorinated s-triazine herbicide
Mode-of-Action Group: Group 5 photosystem II inhibitor, formerly classified as C1
InChIKey: MXWJVTOOROXGIU-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES: CCNc1nc(Cl)nc(NC(C)C)n1

PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

Appearance: Colourless to white crystalline powder
Odour: Odourless
Melting Point: 175–177 °C
Boiling Behaviour: Decomposes on strong heating
Specific Gravity: 1.19 at 20 °C
Water Solubility: Approximately 30 mg/L at 20 °C
Solubility in Dimethyl Sulfoxide: Approximately 183 g/L
Solubility in Chloroform: Approximately 52 g/L
Solubility in Ethyl Acetate: Approximately 28 g/L
Solubility in Methanol: Approximately 18 g/L
Solubility in Diethyl Ether: Approximately 12 g/L
Vapour Pressure: Approximately 3 × 10⁻⁷ mmHg at 20 °C
Henry’s Law Constant: Less than 1 × 10⁻⁷ atm·m³/mol
Partition Coefficient: log Kow approximately 2.75
Acid Dissociation Constant: pKa approximately 1.68 for the conjugate acid
Volatility: Low
Combustibility: The pure solid is not readily combustible
Dry-State Stability: Stable under normal storage conditions
Incompatibilities: Strong acids and strong bases
Thermal Decomposition Products: Hydrogen chloride, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and irritating fumes

The low pKa means that Atrazine is predominantly neutral under most environmental and formulation conditions.
Its very low vapour pressure limits evaporative loss, while its moderate hydrophobicity and measurable water solubility allow both soil interaction and movement with water.

Dry Atrazine is stable, but acidic or alkaline aqueous conditions promote hydrolysis to herbicidally inactive hydroxyatrazine.
Hydrolysis is slower in neutral aqueous systems, so pH control is important during formulation and storage.

HERBICIDAL MODE OF ACTION

Atrazine is absorbed mainly through roots and secondarily through foliage, after which it moves predominantly upward in the xylem.
It binds to the QB site of the D1 protein in photosystem II and interrupts electron transfer between the primary and secondary quinone acceptors.
This interruption stops normal photochemical energy conversion and produces light-dependent oxidative damage in susceptible plants.
Visible effects progress from growth arrest and interveinal chlorosis to tissue necrosis and plant death.

The photosystem II mechanism makes Atrazine particularly effective on actively growing annual broadleaf weeds and several annual grasses.
Residual activity in the germination zone suppresses susceptible weeds as seedlings emerge, while early post-emergence activity controls small, established weeds within registered growth stages.

CROP SELECTIVITY AND RESIDUAL BEHAVIOUR

Tolerant crops rapidly convert Atrazine into less active metabolites before damaging concentrations accumulate at the photosynthetic target.
In maize, glutathione conjugation and N-dealkylation are important detoxification pathways that distinguish crop response from that of susceptible weeds.

Selectivity is influenced by crop growth stage, metabolic condition, soil texture, organic matter, moisture, temperature and the amount of biologically available herbicide.
Crop stress, unsuitable soil conditions or excessive exposure can slow detoxification and increase injury risk.

Soil residual performance depends on adsorption, microbial activity, chemical hydrolysis and movement through the root zone.
Carryover can affect sensitive rotational crops, making registered plant-back intervals and crop-specific restrictions important components of field planning.

PRODUCTION AND COMMERCIAL FORM

Industrial Atrazine manufacture begins with cyanuric chloride and uses sequential nucleophilic substitution with ethylamine and isopropylamine.
Staged temperature control favours selective replacement of two ring chlorine atoms while retaining the chlorine that defines the final Atrazine structure.
A base neutralises the hydrogen chloride formed during substitution and supports efficient reaction completion.

The crude product is purified by neutralisation, salt removal, crystallisation, filtration, washing and drying before milling or further formulation.
Process control focuses on residual cyanuric chloride, unreacted amines, salts, hydroxyatrazine, dealkylated triazines and related chloro-s-triazines.
Simazine and propazine can occur as related manufacturing impurities, and they are chemically distinct substances rather than synonyms for Atrazine.

Technical Atrazine commonly contains approximately 95% active ingredient and is further defined by impurity and physical-property controls.
Commercial forms also include micronised formulation feedstock, suspension concentrates, wettable powders, water-dispersible granules, dry flowables, granules and registered multi-active herbicide products.

APPLICATIONS AND INDUSTRIES

Maize and corn production

Atrazine is used extensively in maize and corn weed-management programmes because crop metabolism provides selectivity and the active ingredient controls weeds both in the soil and shortly after emergence.
Registered treatments may include preplant-incorporated, pre-emergence and early post-emergence placement, with the approved label defining crop type, growth stage, soil limits and application pattern.
Residual control is especially useful where successive flushes of annual broadleaf weeds and grasses would otherwise compete with the crop during early development.

Sorghum production

Registered sorghum uses employ Atrazine for residual and early post-emergence control of susceptible annual weeds.
Crop stage, soil characteristics and formulation placement are particularly important because young or stressed sorghum can be less tolerant under adverse conditions.

Sugarcane weed management

In sugarcane, Atrazine supports broadleaf and grass weed control during establishment and early canopy development.
Its soil activity is useful in long-season production systems where sustained weed suppression reduces competition for moisture, nutrients and light.

Specialty crops, turf and non-crop sites

Some jurisdictions register Atrazine products for uses that include macadamia, guava, wheat, nursery or ornamental sites, fallow land and established turfgrass.
Each use is a separate pesticide authorisation, so crop, site, timing and environmental restrictions are defined by the applicable registered label.

Herbicide mixtures and resistance programmes

Atrazine is incorporated into registered mixtures and sequential programmes to broaden weed spectrum, strengthen residual control and combine effective modes of action.
Mixture partners are selected for activity on the same target weeds, compatible crop selectivity, complementary persistence and compliance with crop-specific registration requirements.

Research and analytical work

High-purity Atrazine reference material is used for chromatographic method development, residue analysis, water and soil monitoring, degradation studies, metabolism research and formulation quality control.
Analytical reference material serves a different purpose from technical Atrazine and requires tightly assigned purity, traceability and storage documentation.

GRADE SELECTION AND PRODUCT SUITABILITY

Technical Material: Approximately 95% active ingredient for manufacture of registered formulations
Micronised Formulation Feedstock: Controlled particle-size material for suspension concentrates, wettable powders and water-dispersible granules
Finished Pesticide Formulations: Registered SC, WP, WG, DF, granule and multi-active products for authorised end uses
Analytical Reference Material: High-purity, characterised material for calibration and method validation

Technical-grade selection centres on Atrazine assay, impurity profile, water content, acidity or alkalinity, insoluble matter and physical form.
Formulators also require particle-size distribution and milling behaviour that match the intended wetting, dispersion and suspensibility system.

Technical equivalence depends on both active-ingredient content and the identity and concentration of relevant manufacturing impurities.
Five-batch analytical data, manufacturing-process information and impurity methods are therefore important parts of regulatory-grade procurement packages.

FORMULATION AND PROCESS CONSIDERATIONS

Atrazine’s low water solubility makes concentrated true aqueous solutions impractical at normal commercial strengths.
Most water-based products therefore use finely divided solid Atrazine held as a stable dispersion rather than molecularly dissolved active ingredient.

Suspension concentrates combine micronised Atrazine with wetting and dispersing agents, rheology modifiers, antifoam, antifreeze and preservation components.
Particle-size control, complete wetting and suitable rheology reduce agglomeration, hard settling and nozzle blockage while maintaining pourability and redispersibility.
Accelerated storage, low-temperature cycling and freeze-thaw testing reveal crystal growth, viscosity drift and sediment compaction before commercial filling.

Water-dispersible granules and dry flowables require a balance of binder, disintegrant, carrier and surfactant performance.
The granules must resist attrition during handling yet disintegrate quickly in spray water and produce a fine, stable suspension with limited foam.
Moisture-barrier packaging protects granule strength, flow and disintegration behaviour during storage.

Wettable powders can carry a high active content but require effective dust control, rapid wetting and low wet-sieve residue.
Granular soil products use carrier size and active distribution to control flow, placement uniformity and dust generation.

Neutral to mildly alkaline formulation systems support storage stability, while strong acid or strong alkali accelerates conversion to hydroxyatrazine.
Water hardness, dissolved salts and the surfactant package influence dispersion and tank-mixture behaviour.
Compatibility work should examine pH, precipitation, flocculation, persistent foam, viscosity and active-ingredient stability in the complete formulation.

RESISTANCE MANAGEMENT

Repeated reliance on Atrazine or other Group 5 photosystem II inhibitors can select resistant weed populations.
A well-known target-site mechanism is the Ser264Gly substitution in the psbA-encoded D1 protein, which reduces Atrazine binding at the QB site.
Enhanced metabolic detoxification can also confer resistance and may create cross-resistance patterns that differ from target-site resistance.

Durable programmes rotate effective modes of action, use registered mixtures containing independently active partners, integrate crop rotation and mechanical or cultural controls, and prevent survivors from returning seed.
Resistance planning is strongest when field history, weed species, known resistance traits and residual activity are considered before product selection.

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND WATER PROTECTION

Atrazine is moderately persistent in soil, with dissipation commonly occurring over weeks to months through microbial degradation, hydrolysis, plant uptake and movement from the treated zone.
Cool, dry or biologically inactive subsurface conditions slow degradation, and persistence in groundwater is generally longer than in biologically active topsoil.

The combination of approximately 30 mg/L water solubility, moderate soil sorption and low volatility gives Atrazine a meaningful runoff and leaching profile.
Transport occurs mainly in dissolved runoff, water moving through soil, eroded sediment and spray drift rather than by evaporation.

Important degradation products include deethylatrazine, deisopropylatrazine, diaminochlorotriazine and hydroxyatrazine.
Hydroxyatrazine is herbicidally inactive and usually binds more strongly to soil, while chlorinated dealkylation products can remain mobile in water.

Aquatic plants and algae are particularly sensitive because the herbicidal target is photosynthesis.
Atrazine is classified as very toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects, making surface-water and groundwater protection central to its stewardship.

Registered controls can include application-rate ceilings, timing restrictions, drift-reduction measures, vegetated filter strips, conservation tillage, grassed waterways, field setbacks and watershed-specific runoff mitigation.
Application to saturated soil or immediately before heavy rain increases off-site movement and is prohibited by relevant labels in regulated programmes.
Wash water, spills and container rinsate must be contained and kept out of drains, wells, surface water and groundwater pathways.

QUALITY, SPECIFICATIONS AND DOCUMENTATION

Identity testing uses chromatographic retention and spectroscopic comparison, while active content is commonly measured by high-performance liquid chromatography or gas chromatography.
Related triazines, hydroxyatrazine, residual amines and process-specific impurities require validated separation and quantification.

Key Technical-Material Parameters: Atrazine assay, related triazines, relevant impurities, water content, acidity or alkalinity, insoluble matter, appearance and particle-size distribution
Key Suspension-Concentrate Parameters: Active content, density, pH, viscosity, particle size, suspensibility, wet-sieve residue, persistent foam, pourability, sedimentation, redispersibility and storage stability
Key Dry-Formulation Parameters: Active content, moisture, wettability, dispersibility, suspensibility, wet-sieve residue, dustiness, attrition resistance, flow and storage stability

A Certificate of Analysis connects the supplied batch to its tested specification values.
A Safety Data Sheet communicates hazard classification, exposure controls, first aid, transport and disposal requirements.
A Technical Data Sheet describes the commercial form and the quality parameters relevant to processing and formulation.

Regulatory procurement can also require country of origin, manufacturing-process description, five-batch analysis, impurity methods, technical-equivalence information, composition data, packaging details and batch traceability.
Complete documentation is especially important when Atrazine will be formulated, registered or imported as a pesticide active ingredient.

SAFETY AND HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS

Signal Word: Warning
H317: May cause an allergic skin reaction.
H373: May cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure.
H410: Very toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects.

Dust exposure can affect the eyes, skin and respiratory tract, and sensitised individuals may react after further skin contact.
Occupational controls should minimise inhalation, ingestion and skin exposure through enclosed transfer, local exhaust ventilation, controlled cleaning and suitable personal protective equipment.

In 2025, Atrazine was classified in carcinogenic hazard Group 2A, meaning probably carcinogenic to humans.
This category identifies carcinogenic hazard and does not quantify risk at a specified exposure level.
Preventing repeated or unnecessary exposure is therefore a central handling objective.

Pure Atrazine is not readily combustible, although formulations containing organic solvents can present a flammable-liquid hazard.
Heating or fire can generate hydrogen chloride, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and other irritating or toxic fumes.
Firefighters should use self-contained breathing apparatus and prevent contaminated extinguishing water from entering the environment.

REGULATORY AND MARKET POSITION

Atrazine is not approved as an active substance for plant-protection products in the European Union.
Earlier European authorisations were withdrawn after the groundwater assessment did not demonstrate control of Atrazine and its degradation products below 0.1 µg/L across large areas.

In the United States, Atrazine remains registered as a restricted-use pesticide and may be purchased and applied only by certified applicators or persons working under their direct supervision.
Its registration review and ecological mitigation development continue, and approved labels can include crop-specific rates, timing limits, runoff controls, drift measures and watershed-related requirements.

Other countries maintain their own approvals, prohibited-use lists, maximum residue limits, technical-equivalence requirements and registration-holder rules.
International procurement must align the technical material, formulation, intended crop, destination-market authorisation and regulatory dossier.

FIRST AID

Inhalation: Move the affected person to fresh air, keep the person at rest and obtain medical attention if breathing difficulty or other symptoms occur.
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing and wash the skin immediately with soap and plenty of water.
Eye Contact: Rinse cautiously with clean water for at least 15 minutes, remove contact lenses when easy to do and obtain medical attention for persistent irritation.
Ingestion: Rinse the mouth, do not induce vomiting and obtain immediate medical attention or poison-centre advice.
Note to Physicians: Provide symptomatic and supportive treatment with attention to respiratory, neurological and hepatic findings after significant exposure.

HANDLING AND STORAGE

Handle technical Atrazine in closed or locally exhausted equipment that prevents dust release and cross-contamination.
Wear chemical-resistant gloves, protective clothing and eye protection, with suitable respiratory protection where engineering controls do not keep airborne dust adequately controlled.
Do not eat, drink or smoke in handling areas, and wash thoroughly after work.

Store Atrazine in tightly closed, correctly labelled containers in a cool, dry, well-ventilated and secure pesticide area.
Protect the product from moisture, direct sunlight, high heat and contact with strong acids or strong bases.
Segregate it from food, beverages, animal feed and seed, and maintain controlled access and lot traceability.

For spills, stop dust generation, isolate the area and prevent entry into drains, soil and waterways.
Collect the material with non-sparking tools or an appropriate filtered vacuum, place it in labelled waste containers and clean the surface without creating contaminated runoff.

PACKAGING AND PROCUREMENT CONSIDERATIONS

Technical Atrazine powder is commonly packed in lined fibre or steel drums and moisture-resistant multiwall bags with sealed inner liners.
Suspension concentrates use compatible high-density polyethylene containers, drums or intermediate bulk containers, while dry formulations require moisture-barrier bags or rigid containers.
Packaging compatibility testing covers seal integrity, permeation, panel distortion, sediment recovery, moisture ingress and stability through the intended storage period.

Procurement specifications should define assay, impurity limits, physical form, particle-size requirements, moisture, analytical method, batch size, packaging, palletisation, transport classification and destination-country documentation.
For formulation projects, the buyer should also define the target product type, active concentration, milling requirement and regulatory-equivalence package.

ATAMAN KIMYA SUPPLY AND CONTACT

Ataman Kimya supports Atrazine procurement with attention to technical grade, formulation route, assay, impurity profile, particle size, documentation, packaging and destination-market requirements.
For Atrazine specifications, application context and supply planning, contact Ataman Kimya by telephone at +90 216 577 10 10 or by email at info@atamankimya.com.