Registration Dossier
Registration Dossier
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EC number: 200-312-9 | CAS number: 57-10-3
Biodegradation in water: screening tests
Administrative data
Link to relevant study record(s)
Description of key information
Palmitic acid is readily biodegradable
Key value for chemical safety assessment
Additional information
Palmitic acid was tested according to the ISO 10708 (BODIS test)
which is apparently similar to the “closed bottle test”, OECD 301 D.
Three replicates with palmitic acid at concentrations of 100 mg/L COD
were incubated with non-adapted activated sludge. The oxygen consumption
was monitored during the 28 day test period. The results clearly showed
that palmitic acid was degraded by 65% in average at day 28 (Börner,1994).
According to the opinion of the SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE ON
HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS on “Compatibility of the ISO
standard 10708 (biodegradability test method) with the ultimate
biodegradability requirements imposed through Annex III of Regulation
648/2004 of Parliament and of the Council”, the BODIS-Test/ISO 10708
shows the same variability and biodegradation results obtained with
other OECD screening tests (SCHER, 2005). Since the pass criterion of
60% degradation within 28 days of the ISO 10708 is consistent with those
obtained with the OECD ready biodegradability methods, palmitic acid can
be regarded as readily biodegradable.
The well anaerobic biodegradability of palmitic acid is shown in
the following tests.
Wierich (1992) showed in an anaerobic biodegradation study with 98% pure
palmitic acid according to ECETOC Technical Report no 28 (today ISO
11734) a 77% degradation in 69 days.
The anaerobic degradation of palmitic acid was investigated by Nuck and Federle (1995) in an mixture of anaerobic sewage sludge and mineral salts. The radioactive labeled test substance was monitored for the production of labeled carbon dioxide and methane over the time (30 d). Palmitic acid was significantly mineralized: At test end 67.5% of the labeled test substance was recovered as carbon dioxide and 20.9% as methane. In sum, palmitic acid was mineralized in sludge up to 88.4% under anaerobic conditions within 30 days.
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