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Environmental fate & pathways

Biodegradation in water: screening tests

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Reference
Endpoint:
biodegradation in water: ready biodegradability
Type of information:
experimental study
Adequacy of study:
key study
Reliability:
1 (reliable without restriction)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
guideline study
Qualifier:
according to guideline
Guideline:
OECD Guideline 301 B (Ready Biodegradability: CO2 Evolution Test)
Deviations:
no
GLP compliance:
yes (incl. QA statement)
Oxygen conditions:
aerobic
Inoculum or test system:
other: sewage sludge micro-organisms, predominantly domestic
Details on inoculum:
- Source of inoculum/activated sludge: Severn Trent Water Plc sewage treatment plant at Loughborough, Leicestershire, UK , predominantly domestic
Duration of test (contact time):
ca. 28 d
Initial conc.:
ca. 17.1 mg/L
Based on:
test mat.
Initial conc.:
ca. 10 other: mg C/L
Based on:
test mat.
Parameter followed for biodegradation estimation:
CO2 evolution
Details on study design:
TEST CONDITIONS
- Composition of medium:
Solution a: KH2PO4 8.50 g/L
K2HPO4 21.75 g/L
Na2HPO4*2H2O 33.40 g/L
NH4Cl 0.50
Solution b: CaCl2 27.50 g/L
Solution c: MgSO4*7H2O 22.50 g/L
Solution d: FeCl3*6H2O 0.25 g/L
To 1 litre (final volume) of purified water (reverse osmosis purified and deionised water) was asdded the folowing volumes of solitions a – d: 10 mL of solution a, 1 mL of solution b, 1 mL of solution c, and 1 mL of solution d
- Additional substrate: no
- Solubilising agent (type and concentration if used): no
- Test temperature: 21 °C
- pH: 7.6 – 7.7
- pH adjusted: no
- CEC (meq/100 g): not reported
- Aeration of dilution water: yes
- Suspended solids concentration: 30 mg /L
- Continuous darkness: yes

TEST SYSTEM
- Culturing apparatus: sealed glass culture vessels
- Number of culture flasks/concentration: 2
- Method used to create aerobic conditions: CO2-free air was bubbled through the solution at a rate of 40 mL/min. CO2-free air was produced fby passing compresseed air through a glass column containing self-indicating soda lime (Carbosorb®) granules.
- Measuring equipment:
CO2 analyses: Tekmar-Dohrmann Apollo 9000 TOC Anayser; Oinics 155B tOC anaqlyser; Shimadzu TOC-VCSH TOC Analyser
DOC analyses: Shimadzu TOC.%=%=A TOC Analyser
pH measurements: WTW pH/Oxi 340I pH and dissolved oxygen meter
- Test performed in closed vessels due to significant volatility of test substance: not required
- Test performed in open system: no
- Details of trap for CO2 and volatile organics if used: CO2 produced was collectede in two 500 mL Dreschel bottles containing 350 mL of 0.05 M NaOH. The CO2 absorbing solutions were prepared using purifies de-gassed water.

SAMPLING
- Sampling frequency: sampling ofthe first absorber flask on days 0, 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14,16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 27, 28 and 29; sampling oft he second absorber flask on days 0 and 29
- Sampling method: absorber flask 1: 2 mL were removed from the absorber flask and analysed imediately for CO2. Samples from Day 12 and 18 were stored at approximately -20 °C. However these samplews wer not analysed for CO2 as the results obtained from previous and subsequent analyses showed that the test material hat met the 10-Day window.
- Sample storage before analysis: no



CONTROL AND BLANK SYSTEM
- Inoculum blank: yes, 2 replicates
- Abiotic sterile control: no
- Toxicity control: yes
- Other:

STATISTICAL METHODS:
Reference substance:
benzoic acid, sodium salt
Parameter:
% degradation (CO2 evolution)
Value:
116
Sampling time:
28 d
Remarks on result:
other: readily bidegradable, 10 d window criterion was passed
Details on results:
Degradation values in excess of 100% were considered to be due to sampling/analytical variation.

Table 1 Percentage Biodegradation Values

Day

% Degradation Sodium Benzoate

% Degradation Test material

% Degradation Test material plus Sodium Benzoate Toxicity Control

0

0

0

0

1

29

10

17

2

61

24

35

3

86

41

59

6

89

50

66

8

87

54

86

10

86

82

90

14

84

103

85

16

89

105

85

20

88

105

89

22

97

107

92

24

101

110

108

27

105

110

108

28

114

116

110

29*

110

104

107

 

* Day 29 values corrected to include any carry-over of CO2 detected in Absorber 2

 

Degradation values in excess of 100% were considered to be due to sampling/analytical variation.

Validity criteria fulfilled:
yes
Interpretation of results:
readily biodegradable
Conclusions:
The test material attained 116% degradation after 28 days and satisfied the 10-Day window validation criterion.
Executive summary:

The ready biodegradation of oleic acid-based TEA-Esterquat was investigated in a study conducted according to OECD Guideline 301B over a period of 28 days and using predominantly domesticsewage sludge micro-organismsas inoculum. The biodegradation rate was determined by measurement of CO2 evolution. Inoculum blank, procedural/functional control with the reference substance sodium benzoate, and toxicity control using x mg/L test item and x mg/L reference compound were performed. This study is regarded as reliable without restriction satisfies the guideline requirements for ready biodegradation. The test item proved to be readily biodegradable and fulfilling the 10-d window criterion . The functional control reached the pass level >60% after 14 d. In the toxicity control containing both test and reference item 85% biodegradation ThCO2 occurred within 14 d thus indicating that the test item was not inhibitory at the concentration tested.


Degradation values in excess of 100% were considered to be due to sampling/analytical variation.

Description of key information

Oleic acid-based TEA-Esterquat is readily biodegradable.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Biodegradation in water:
readily biodegradable
Type of water:
freshwater

Additional information

Oleic acid-based TEA-Esterquat was studied according to OEC D 301 B (Ready Biodegradability: CO2 Evolution Test) resulting in a % degradation of 116% in 28 days. The 10-day criterion was passed. Degradation values in excess of 100 % were considered to be due to sampling/analytical variation.


 


These results are in line with the studies conducted with the structurally related source substances partially unsaturated TEA-Esterquat and fully saturated TEA-Esterquat.


The ready biodegradability of partially unsaturated TEA-Esterquat was investigated in a study conducted according to OECD Guideline 301 B (Ready Biodegradability: CO2 Evolution Test). The test item proved to be readily biodegradable (78.8 % biodegradation after 7 d; 98.9 % biodegradation after 28 d) at an initial test item concentration of 55 mg test mat./L (20 mg TOC/L). Sampling was performed on day 0 and after 4, 7, 11, 14, 21, and 28 days. The 10 d  window criterion was passed, although this criterion should not be applied to TEA-Esterquats.


A further test according to OECD Guideline 301 B (Ready Biodegradability: CO2 Evolution Test) with partially unsaturated TEA-Esterquat resulted in 78 % degradation after 28 days, fulfilling the 10 d criterion at a test item concentration of 17.1 mg test mat./L (10 mg C/L).


Partially unsaturated TEA-Esterquat proved to be readily biodegradable in further studies according to OECD Guideline 301 B (Ready Biodegradability: CO2 Evolution Test). Biodegradation from 75 % to 67.2% was observed.


The ready biodegradation of partially unsaturated TEA-Esterquat was also investigated according to OECD Guideline 301 D and EU-Method C.4 -E over a period of 28 days and using domestic sewage as inoculum. The biodegradation rate was determined by measurement of oxygen consumption. The test item proved to be readily biodegradable and fulfilling the 14-d window criterion. The functional control reached the pass level >60% after 14 d. In the toxicity control containing both test and reference item >25% biodegradation based on oxygen consumption occurred within 14 d thus indicating that the test item was not inhibitory at the concentration tested.


Several further studies were performed according to OECD Guideline 301D. Biodegradation was between 74 and 99% (O2 consumption).


Two studies according to OECD Guideline 301 C (Ready Biodegradability: Modified MITI Test (I)) are available for partially unsaturated TEA-Esterquat as well as one study according to OECD Guideline 301 F (Ready Biodegradability: Manometric Respirometry Test) showed ready biodegradability. Biodegradation was 67% - 78% O2consumption for the MITI (I) tests and 79 % O2consumption for the Manometric respirometry test.


TEA-Esterquat fully saturated proved to be readily biodegradable (65-66 % after 28 d).TEA-Esterquats are - as UVBC substances - mixtures of structurally similar chemicals. To interpret the results of a test with a mixture of structurally similar chemicals in a study conducted according to OECD Guideline 301 B (Ready Biodegradability: CO2 Evolution Test; 1992) the 10 d criterion should not be applied.


The arithmetic mean biodegradability resulting from the % biodegradation of these most reliable studies is 80.2% in 28 days. Further reliable studies on readily biodegradability available The arithmetic mean of the biodegradation of all reliable studies is 78.4 % in 28 days. There is strong evidence, that oleic acid-based TEA-Esterquat is readily biodegradable.


 


Anaerobic biodegradation


Under anaerobic conditions partially unsaturated TEA-Esterquat was biodegraded in a test according to ECETOC Anaerobic Biodegradation (Technical Report No. 28) with activated sludge from a sewage treatment plant as inoculum. The test material attained 76% degradation after 56 days and therefore can be considered as biodegradable under anaerobic conditions.