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EC number: 204-873-0 | CAS number: 127-95-7
Biodegradation in water: screening tests
Administrative data
Link to relevant study record(s)
Description of key information
Potassium hydrogen oxalte can be asimilated to oxalic acid: in water solution oxalte anion is present as occurs with the oxalic acid.
A series of degradation studies was carried out in line with traditional BOD tests. These tests follow the mineralisation of oxalix acid in time (mostly in 5 days) and compare the oxygen consumption (BOD) with the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD). Test conditions were generally in line with the strict conditions described for the screening tests for ready biodegradability (low inoculum, low test substance concentration, unadapted sludge, OECD 301). The results show that oxalic acid is readily biodegradable under aerobic conditions. This was also the case in seawater. The main part of the process seems to occur within the "10-day time window".
In a anaerobic test acc. to ISO 11734, oxalic acid was also rapidly degraded.
Key value for chemical safety assessment
- Biodegradation in water:
- readily biodegradable
Additional information
A range of BOD tests is available all showing that oxalic acid is degraded rapidly in 5 days. The key study in itself is sufficient, but supporting studies confirm the findings. It is concluded that oxalic acid is to be considered as readily biodegradable. The degradation process seems to start without a delay and thus also the requirement on the rate of degradation (the 10 -day window) is met.
| Reference | Test type | % degradation | Reliability |
| 1968 Young | KEY STUDY:Similar to EU Method C5: BOD test in large volume. measured oxygen consumption, TOC removal, bacterial growth | after 5 days: 89%after 20 days: 89% | 2 |
| 1985 Deshkar | BOD5 test at 20, 25 and 35 degree C | after 5 days: 54, 92 and 95 % | 2 |
| 1958 Gaffney | BOD test, standard dilution method | after 5 days: 78 -94% | 2 |
| 2004 Hongwei | ISO 11734, anaerobic degradation | rapidly biodegradable under anaerobic conditions | 2 |
| 1981 Takemoto | BOD5 test, standard dilution method, also in seawater | after 5 days 68%; in seawater 64% | 2 |
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