Abstract The photochemical degradation of the herbicides alachlor (2-chloro-2′, 6′-diethyl- N-methoxymethylacetanilide) and bentazone (3-isopropyl-(1H)-2, 1, 3-benzothiadiazin-4 (3H)-one-2, 2-dioxide) in distilled water and in river water, under xenon arc lamp irradiation, was investigated. Analytical determinations were carried out by using a xenon arc photoreactor and online solid-phase extraction coupled to liquid-chromatography diode- ...