Matte, copper

Additional information on environmental fate and behaviour

Administrative data

Endpoint:

additional information on environmental fate and behaviour

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

2009

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: in accordance to OECD

Cross-reference

Cross-reference 1

Reason / purpose for cross-reference:

reference to same study

Cross-reference 2

Reason / purpose for cross-reference:

reference to other study

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

study report

Title:

Unnamed

Year:

2010

Materials and methods

Principles of method if other than guideline:

The report aims to describe the transformation/dissolution behaviour of copper intermediates through an experimental design that follows the recommendations of the OECD guidance document on transformation/dissolution (T/D) (OECD 2001) and the standard operating procedures (SOP) proposed by CANMET and LISEC for the Transformation / Dissolution protocol to the ad hoc OECD Validation Management Group (VMG) . The developed procedures, called SOP, provide a detailed methodology for T/D that includes instrumentation requirements, reagents quality, procedures for the seven-day and 28-days full test, chemical analyses and a quality assurance program (QA/QC standards). The experimental procedure followed by CIMM can be found in annex I of the study report.

The results of T/D tests can be compared with the eco-toxicity reference values to establish the aquatic hazard classification of the tested substance.

GLP compliance:

no

Remarks:

other quality assurance

Type of study / information:

In accordance to CLP guidance - chapter IV. The metal concentrations released during the transformation/dissolution test are compared to the EC50s of the soluble metal ions. Toxicity is derived through the application of mixture toxicity rules, assuming additivity

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Matte, copper

EC Number:

266-967-8

EC Name:

Matte, copper

Cas Number:

67711-91-5

IUPAC Name:

matte, copper

Test material form:

other: Sieved 0.8 to 2.4 mm fraction

Details on test material:

Sample collection made according to ECI/REACH Copper Consortium Standards Protocols (see IUCLID section 1.4 and 4.1 attachment)
Sample description Sample Code Lab Code
B2 Matte, Flash furnace type (composite from grinded material) AC_B2_625559 09TT02788
B2 Matte, Electric furnace type (composite from grinded material) AC_B2_625208 09TT02787

Results and discussion

Any other information on results incl. tables

 

The copper intermediates B2, slags, copper-refining, is a complex metal containing material with relatively high amounts of copper oxides, and various amounts of other non-ferrous metals oxides. For such a material, the rate and extend of the metals release is critical to its environmental classification.

 

Transformation/dissolution tests of a B2 copper intermediate was carried out to study its potential to release metals to the environment, in the context of the EU classification and labeling and REACH regulations.

 

Considering the heterogeneity and composition of this complex material, a transformation / dissolution test was performed for 7 days at pH 6 and a loading of 100 mg/L. Following the transformation/dissolution, a broad range of metals releases are considered (table 1).

 

The results of the 7 days test for the samples 2787 and 2788 (identified as B2), with a range of particle size between 0.8 – 2.4 mm, showed a copper release to the OECD media of 30.0 and 29.7mg/L, respectively, and a lead release of 4.6 and 3.9mg/L, respectively.

 

Additional measurements of DOC and hardness in the transformation / dissolution media at the end of the seven day tests, showed organic carbon concentration below the detection limit of the instrument (0.2 mg/L), and no significant contribution of the samples to the hardness of the OECD media.  

 

Table 1. Summary of metals released for the B2 sample after 7 days of transformation/dissolution test, 100 mg/L loading and pH 6. Metal releases were calculated as the difference between the mean sample release and the mean blanks release at 168 hours.= Below Detection Limit; SD= Standard Deviation.

Metal	2787 (particle size 0.8 – 2.4 mm)		2788 (particle size 0.8 – 2.4 mm)
7 days – 100 mg/L	Mean	SD	Mean	SD
Copper, mg/L	30.0	2.49	29.7	8.99
Nickel, mg/L	BDL	-	BDL	-
Arsenic, mg/L	BDL	-	BDL	-
Lead, mg/L	4.6	0.40	3.9	0.83
Zinc, mg/L	BDL	-	BDL	-
Aluminium, mg/L	BDL	-	BDL	-
Cobalt,mg/L	BDL	-	BDL	-
Molybdenum, mg/L	BDL	-	BDL	-
Barium, mg/L	BDL	-	BDL	-
Strontium, mg/L	BDL	-	BDL	-
Chromium,mg/L	BDL	-	BDL	-
Iron,mg/L	BDL	-	BDL	-
Manganese, mg/L	BDL	-	BDL	-
Selenium, mg/L	BDL	-	BDL	-
Cadmium, mg/L	BDL	-	BDL	-
Silver,mg/L	BDL	-	BDL	-
Tellurium,mg/L	BDL	-	BDL	-
Tin,mg/L	BDL	-	BDL	-
Antimony,mg/L	BDL	-	BDL	-
Silicon,mg/L	BDL	-	BDL	-

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

Good quality study and data are critical to the assessment of the environmental hazards of the intermediate

Executive summary:

Transformation/dissolution tests of B2 copper matte (two representative samples) , were carried out to study its potential to release metals to the environment, in the context of the EU classification and labeling and REACH regulations.

 

Considering the composition of this complex material, a transformation / dissolution test was performed for 7 days at pH 6 and a loading of 100 mg/L, following the release of a broad range of metals from the samples.   The results of the 7 days test for the samples 2787 and 2788 (identified as B2 Electric furnace and Flash furnace matte, respectively), with a range of particle size between 0.8 – 2.4 mm, showed a copper release to the OECD media of 30.0 and 29.7mg/L, respectively, and a lead release of 4.6 and 3.9mg/L, respectively and no releases of other metals

Chemical composition (% metal X in UVCB, see IUCLID 4.23) is required to convert these µg/l values into % release from total amount Metal X present -in view of integration into automatic calculation tool.