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EC number: 201-170-0 | CAS number: 79-03-8
Biodegradation in water: screening tests
Administrative data
Link to relevant study record(s)
Description of key information
As the parent compound rapidly hydrolyses in aqueous system the assessment of the biodegradability based on the hydrolysis product propionic acid, which is readily biodegradable.
Key value for chemical safety assessment
- Biodegradation in water:
- readily biodegradable
Additional information
Parent compound propionyl chloride: No experimental data are available for the parent compound. However, since the substance is known to hydrolyse rapidly to propionic acid and HCl, read-across is made to the supporting substance propionic acid (CAS 79 -09 -4). The supporting substance is readily biodegradable (see below).
Propionic acid: The evaluation of the biodegradability of propionic acid can be derived from different studies.
Biodegradation of propionic acid was evaluated using a standard manometric technique (Warburg Respirometer) which is similar to nowadays OECD 301 D. The biodegradation after 30 days was 74% (BOD of ThOD) [Dias & Alexander, 1971]. Malaney & Gerhold (1969) used the Warburg Respirometer technique to assess the aerobic biodegradation of propionic acid over a 24-hour interval with activated sludge solids. Biodegradation after 24 hours was 40.4% (BOD of ThOD). Anaerobic biodegradation of propionic acid was evaluated in an acetate-enriched culture originated from domestic sewage sludge and added to Hungate serum bottles. There was 100% biodegradation measured after 20 days [Chou & al., 1978].
Summarizing all available data it can be concluded that propionic acid is readily biodegraded under aerobic and anaerobic conditions [OECD SIDS, 2007].
The results named above are supported by three QSAR models performed with propionic acid.
- EPI Suite v4.10: BIOWIN v4.10: Overall conclusion on ready biodegradability: readily biodegradable
- CATALOGIC v5.11.2: BOD 28 days MITI [OECD 301C] v4.05: 100% after 28 d (domain similarity: 80%) - readily biodegradable
- CATALOGIC v5.11.2: BOD Kinetic [OECD 301F] beta v07.09: ca. 83.5% after 28 d (domain similarity: 80%) - readily biodegradable
Based on the available data, the parent compound propionyl chloride hydrolyses rapidly in aqueous systems while its hydrolysis product propionic acid is expected to be readily biodegradable.
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