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Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.

The new ECHA CHEM database has been released by ECHA, and it now contains all REACH registration data. There are more details on the transition of ECHA's published data to ECHA CHEM here.

Diss Factsheets

Environmental fate & pathways

Endpoint summary

Administrative data

Description of key information

Additional information

Environmental Fate/Exposure Summary:


Triethylene glycol monobutyl ether's or (2-(2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethanol) production and use as a plasticizer intermediate, a solvent, in cutting and hydraulic oils, production of inks, as a leveling agent, in the leather auxiliaries industry, and in the chemical, textile, and transportation industries may result in its release to the environment through various waste streams.

If released to air, a vapor pressure of 2.5X10-3 mm Hg at 25 deg C indicates triethylene glycol monobutyl ether or (2-(2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethanol) will exist solely as a vapor in the atmosphere. Vapor-phase triethylene glycol monobutyl ether or (2-(2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethanol) will be degraded in the atmosphere by reaction with photochemically-produced hydroxyl radicals; the half-life for this reaction in air is estimated to be 7.5 hours.

Alcohols and ethers do not contain chromophores that absorb at wavelengths >290 nm and therefore triethylene glycol monobutyl ether or (2-(2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethanol) is not expected to be susceptible to direct photolysis by sunlight.

 

 If released to soil, triethylene glycol monobutyl ether or (2-(2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethanol) is expected to have very high mobility based upon an estimated Koc of 10. Volatilization from moist soil surfaces is not expected to be an important fate process based upon an estimated Henry's Law constant of 9.5X10-14 atm-cu m/mole. Based on % theoretical BODS of 0-24 in 5-20 days,triethylene glycol monobutyl etheror (2-(2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethanol) is expected to biodegrade slowly in soil and water.

 

If released into water, triethylene glycol monobutyl ether or(2-(2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethanol) is not expected to adsorb to suspended solids and sediment based upon the estimated Koc. Volatilization from water surfaces is not expected to be an important fate process based upon this compound's estimated Henry's Law constant.

An estimated BCF of 3 suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low.

Hydrolysis is not expected to be an important environmental fate process since this compound lacks functional groups that hydrolyze under environmental conditions.

 

Occupational exposure to triethylene glycol monobutyl ether or (2-(2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethanol) may occur through inhalation and dermal contact with this compound at workplaces where triethylene glycol monobutyl ether or (2-(2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethanol)is produced or used.

Monitoring and use data indicate that the general population may be exposed to triethylene glycol monobutyl ether or (2-(2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethanol) via ingestion of contaminated drinking water and dermal contact with products containing triethylene glycol monobutyl ether or (2-(2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethanol).

Biodegradation

When released to water, some studies show that biodegradation of category members is reasonably rapid (Table 2). OECD guideline studies indicate biodegradability (> 90%) for TGBE ((Triethylene glycol monobutyl ether'sor (2-(2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethanol)).

However, the APHA comparative biodegradation study of TGBE indicate slower rates of biodegradation (from 47-71%). Altogether, the data suggest that different study methodologies provide variable results for the tri- and tetraethylene glycol ethers.

No category members or surrogates that were tested demonstrate marked resistance to biodegradative processes.

Due to the structural and physical similarities with the other glycol ethers in the category, TetraBE is likely to be biodegradable.

Table 2 Comparison of Biodegradation Rate Ranges for Category Members and Surrogates

Category Member

Biodegradation Rate Ranges

TGBE

2-(2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethanol143-22-6

47% after 20 days (APHA) (ready) 88% after 14 day (OECD) (ready) 92% after 21 days (OECD) (ready)** 100% after 9 days (OECD) (inherent)

TetraME 23783-42-8

99% after 8 days (OECD) (inherent)**

TetraBE 1559-34-8

Data for all chemicals are used

TGME 112-35-6

71% after 20 days (APHA) (inherent)

TGEE 112-50-5

71% after 20 days (APHA) (inherent)

MPEG 350 9004-74-4

No data

DOT4 Brake Fluid

No data

Polyethylene glycol monobutyl ether 9004-77-7

No data

Bioaccumulation

This substance has a limited potential to bioaccumulate (based on log Kows ranging from – 1.73 to +0.51@ 20oC), and predicted bioconcentration factors, log BCF = ca. 0.50 (EPIWIN/BCF Program).These values would suggest very low bioaccumulation

potential.

The estimated BCF of 3.162 L/kg wet-wt was measured by calculation from EPI SuiteTM v4.0 Program.

This is Exposure Assessment Tools and Models made from EPA (Environmental Protection Agency).

BCFBAF Program (v3.00) Results:

==============================

SMILES : O(CCOCCOCCO)CCCC

CHEM : Ethanol, 2- 2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethoxy -

MOL FOR: C10 H22 O4

MOL WT : 206.28

--------------------------------- BCFBAF v3.00 --------------------------------

Summary Results:

Log BCF (regression-based estimate): 0.50 (BCF = 3.16 L/kg wet-wt)

Biotransformation Half-Life (days) : 0.0213 (normalized to 10 g fish)

Log BAF (Arnot-Gobas upper trophic): -0.03 (BAF = 0.944 L/kg wet-wt)

Log Kow (experimental): not available from database

Log Kow used by BCF estimates: 0.02

Equation Used to Make BCF estimate:

Log BCF = 0.50

Correction(s): Value

Correction Factors Not Used for Log Kow < 1

Estimated Log BCF = 0.500 (BCF = 3.162 L/kg wet-wt)

Adsorption

2-(2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethanol does not have a high potential for adsorption to soil due to its fully miscible with water. The Koc of triethylene glycol monobutyl ether or (2-(2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethanol) can be estimated to be 10 . According to a classification scheme, this estimated Koc value suggests that triethylene glycol monobutyl or (2-(2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethanol) ether is expected to have very high mobility in soil.

 

The estimated Soil Adsorption Coefficient was 10 L/kg measured by calculation from EPI SuiteTM v4.0 Program. This is Exposure Assessment Tools and Models made from EPA (Environmental Protection Agency

These results suggest that the2-(2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethanolhashigh soil mobilityand does not have a high potential for adsorption to soil

 

 

KOCWIN Program (v2.00) Results:

==============================

SMILES : O(CCOCCOCCO)CCCC

CHEM  : Ethanol, 2- 2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethoxy -

MOL FOR: C10 H22 O4

MOL WT : 206.28

--------------------------- KOCWIN v2.00 Results ---------------------------

 

Koc Estimate from MCI:

---------------------

First Order Molecular Connectivity Index ........... : 6.914

Non-Corrected Log Koc (0.5213 MCI + 0.60) .......... : 4.2042

Fragment Correction(s):

1  Aliphatic Alcohol (-C-OH) ........... : -1.3179

3  Ether, aliphatic (-C-O-C-) .......... : -2.6148

Corrected Log Koc .................................. : 0.2715

Over Correction Adjustment to Lower Limit Log Koc ... : 1.0000

 

Estimated Koc: 10 L/kg  <===========

 

Koc Estimate from Log Kow:

-------------------------

Log Kow (Kowwin estimate) ......................... : 0.02

Non-Corrected Log Koc (0.55313 logKow + 0.9251) .... : 0.9362

Fragment Correction(s):

1  Aliphatic Alcohol (-C-OH) ........... : -0.4114

3  Ether, aliphatic (-C-O-C-) .......... : -0.2718

Corrected Log Koc .................................. : 0.2529

Henry's Law constant

 

Henry's Law constant The estimated Henrys Law Constant (25 deg C) measured by calculation from EPI SuiteTM v4.1, HENRYWIN v3.20 Program was 2.40E-006 Pa-m3/mole), which is almost zero.

This is Exposure Assessment Tools and Models made from EPA (Environmental Protection Agency).

Bond Est : 2.36E-011 atm-m3/mole(2.40E-006 Pa-m3/mole)

Group Est: 9.52E-014 atm-m3/mole(9.64E-009 Pa-m3/mole)

SMILES : O(CCOCCOCCO)CCCC

CHEM  : 2-(2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethanol

MOL FOR: C10 H22 O4

MOL WT : 206.28

 

 

HENRYWIN v3.20 Results

CLASS 

BOND CONTRIBUTION DESCRIPTION 

COMMENT

VALUE

 

HYDROGEN

21 Hydrogen to Carbon (aliphatic) Bonds 

 

 

 

 

-2.5132

HYDROGEN

1 Hydrogen to Oxygen Bonds

 

3.2318

 

FRAGMENT

6 C-C

 

0.6978

 

FRAGMENT

7 C-O

 

7.5983

 

RESULT

BOND ESTIMATION METHOD for LWAPC VALUE

TOTAL

9.015

 

 

HENRYs LAW CONSTANT at 25 deg C   = 2.36E-011 atm-m3/mole

                                                                   = 9.67E-010 unitless

                                                                     =2.40E-006 Pa-m3/mole

 

 

 

 

GROUP CONTRIBUTION DESCRIPTION 

COMMENT

VALUE

 

 

1 CH3 (X)

 

 

-0.62

 

 

2 CH2 (C)(C)   

 

-0.30

 

7 CH2 (C)(O)   

 

-0.91

 

1 O-H (C) 

 

4.45

 

 

3 O (C)(C) 

 

8.79

 

RESULT

GROUP ESTIMATION METHOD for LOG GAMMA VALUE

TOTAL

11.41

 

 

HENRYs LAW CONSTANT at 25 deg C   = 9.52E-014 atm-m3/mole

                                                                     = 3.89E-012 unitless

                                                                     =9.64E-009 Pa-m3/mole