1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine phosphate

Biodegradation in soil

Administrative data

Endpoint:

biodegradation in soil

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Publication, which meets basic scientific principles, but which is rather old and not well described.

Data source

Reference

Reference 1

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Nitrification of Triazine Nitrogen

Author:

Hauck RD, Stephenson HF

Year:

1964

Bibliographic source:

Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 12, 147-151

Reference 2

Reference Type:

secondary source

Title:

Unnamed

Year:

1983

Materials and methods

Principles of method if other than guideline:

Nitrification of triazine nitrogen.

GLP compliance:

not specified

Test type:

laboratory

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Melamine

EC Number:

203-615-4

EC Name:

Melamine

Cas Number:

108-78-1

Molecular formula:

C3H6N6

IUPAC Name:

1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine

Details on test material:

Melamine (N-content: 66.5 %), reagent grade.
and also Cyanuric acid (N: 32.4 %), ammelide (N: 43.7 %), ammeline (N: 49.4 %), and urea (N: 46.1 %) were tested.
Melamine was obtained from American Cyanamid Co.


Additionally different mixtures were processed: Melamine Phosphate, Melamine Nitrate, Melamine phosphoric acid, Melamine nitric acid, Melamine ferric ammonium sulfate, Melamine copper sulfate, Melamine cadmium sulfate.

Study design

Oxygen conditions:

aerobic

Soil classification:

not specified

Soil properties

Soil properties 1

Soil no.:

#1

Soil type:

silty clay loam

pH:

8.2

Soil properties 2

Soil no.:

#2

Soil type:

sandy loam

pH:

5.2

Details on soil characteristics:

Two soils were used: Webster silty clay loam (Iowa) pH 8.2; and Hartsells fine sandy loam (Alabama) pH 5.2

Duration of test (contact time)

Duration of test (contact time) 1

Soil No.:

#1

Duration:

28 wk

Duration of test (contact time) 2

Soil No.:

#2

Duration:

24 wk

Initial test substance concentration

Initial test substance concentration 1

Soil No.:

#1

Initial conc.:

2 000 mg/kg soil d.w.

Based on:

test mat.

Initial test substance concentration 2

Soil No.:

#1

Initial conc.:

230 mg/kg soil d.w.

Based on:

test mat.

Initial test substance concentration 3

Soil No.:

#2

Initial conc.:

230 mg/kg soil d.w.

Based on:

test mat.

Parameter followed for biodegradation estimation:

other: Nitrification

Experimental conditions

Experimental conditions 1

Soil No.:

#1

Temp.:

32 °C

Humidity:

60 %

Experimental conditions 2

Soil No.:

#2

Temp.:

32 °C

Humidity:

60 %

Details on experimental conditions:

Different experiments were performed. All materials were added as granules or prills screened to pass -8+12 mesh.
Incubation experiment: up to 28 wk, 32 °C.
Experiment 1: Duplicate samples of about 200 mg test material, mixed with 100 g soil No. #1;
Experiment 2: 7.0 mg of triazine (or urea) N were added as solid or in solution to 30 g soil #1, or same concentration was added as solid to soil #2.
Experiment 3: 3 rates of N (7, 14, 21 mg) as melamine were incubated in 30 g of soil No. #1 for 24 hours

Perfusion experiments were performed to study the nitrification of triazines and their effects on the oxidation of added ammonium.
Dilute solutions of triazines (10 mg N as melamine or cyanuric acid alone, or supplemented with with 10 mg N of NH4) were continuously circulated in a well aerated closed system, the triazine solution passing through 30 g of Krilium-treated soil No. #1 at 25 °C, for up to 165 d. Treatment consisted of mixing a 0.1 % aqueous solution of Krilium with soil to form a thick slurry, followed by drying and granulation. Samples of pot solution were taken at weekly intervals for nitrite and nitrate analysis.

Results and discussion

% Degradation

% Degradation 1

Soil No.:

#1

% Degr.:

0.7

Parameter:

other: nitrification; % of organic N, found as NO3- N; granules.

Sampling time:

10 wk

% Degradation 2

Soil No.:

#1

% Degr.:

0

Parameter:

other: nitrification; granules.

Sampling time:

28 wk

% Degradation 3

Soil No.:

#1

% Degr.:

6.4

Parameter:

other: nitrification; solution

Sampling time:

6 wk

% Degradation 4

Soil No.:

#1

% Degr.:

9.1

Parameter:

other: nitrification; solution

Sampling time:

12 wk

% Degradation 5

Soil No.:

#1

% Degr.:

10.5

Parameter:

other: nitrification; solution

Sampling time:

18 wk

% Degradation 6

Soil No.:

#1

% Degr.:

13.7

Parameter:

other: nitrification; solution

Sampling time:

24 wk

% Degradation 7

Soil No.:

#1

% Degr.:

7.7

Parameter:

other: nitrification; powder

Sampling time:

6 wk

% Degradation 8

Soil No.:

#1

% Degr.:

9.1

Parameter:

other: nitrification; powder

Sampling time:

12 wk

% Degradation 9

Soil No.:

#1

% Degr.:

15.4

Parameter:

other: nitrification; powder

Sampling time:

18 wk

% Degradation 10

Soil No.:

#1

% Degr.:

17.9

Parameter:

other: nitrification; powder

Sampling time:

24 wk

% Degradation 11

Soil No.:

#2

% Degr.:

0

Parameter:

other: nitrification; powder

Sampling time:

6 wk

% Degradation 12

Soil No.:

#2

% Degr.:

0

Parameter:

other: nitrification; powder

Sampling time:

12 wk

% Degradation 13

Soil No.:

#2

% Degr.:

3.9

Parameter:

other: nitrification; powder

Sampling time:

18 wk

% Degradation 14

Soil No.:

#2

% Degr.:

8.9

Parameter:

other: nitrification; powder

Sampling time:

24 wk

Half-life / dissipation time of parent compound

DT50:

> 2 - < 3 yr

Type:

other: estimated by ECETOC.

Transformation products:

no

Identity of transformation products

Identity of transformation products 1

No.:

#1

Reference

Reference substance name:

Unnamed

IUPAC name:

nitrate

Identifier:

common name

Identity:

nitrate

Identity of transformation products 2

No.:

#2

Reference

Reference substance name:

Unnamed

IUPAC name:

nitrate

Identifier:

common name

Identity:

nitrate

Evaporation of parent compound:

no

Volatile metabolites:

no

Details on results:

Experiment 1: The extent of nitrate formation from melamine was low (0.7 % of organic N found as NO3-N in week 10, and 0 % in week 28). The extent of nitrate formation increased from melamine to cyanuric acid, that is with decreasing amination of the triazine. Nitrification of cyanuric acid was 35 % at week 10 and 73 % at week 28.
Experiment 2: The extent of nitrate formation increased in both soils inversely with the degree of amination of cyanuric acid.
Powdered Melamine and cyanuric acid nitrified to a slightly greater degree than solutions of these materials.
Both powders and solutions of melamine (and cyanuric acid) nitrified to a much greater extent than the -8+12 mesh granules used in experiment 1 in the same soil and under similar conditions.
In experiment 3, three rates of nitrogen of melamine were incubated in 30 g soil #1 for 24 h. The % of the total N which was recovered as nitrate decreased with increasing rates of application, being 17.9, 7.0 and 4.2 % of the 7, 14, and 21 mg rates of nitrogen of melamine, respectively; and 92.2, 91.5 and 85.5 % of the same rates for cyanuric acid.
Further experiment on the inhibition of of nitrification of added ammonium by cyanuric acid: Cyanuric acidcan inhibit the nitrification under not clearly described circumstances.

Melamine (and cyanuric acid) perfusing with added ammonium slightly delayed the nitrification of ammonium by ca. 2 days.
Melamine and cyanuric acid perfusing without added ammonium degraded at a slow but constant rate for about 4 wk, after which time nitrate assimilation in the perfusion system occurred faster than nitrate production. After 46 d, a maximum of 14 and 9.8 % of N apparently originating from Melamine and cyanuric acid, respectively, was found as nitrate.
Melamine solutions (ca. 490 mg melamine/ kg soil) perfusing through soil slightly delayed the rate of nitrate formation from added ammonium, and caused a marked but temporary accumulation of nitrite.
The biochemical degradation of melamine proceeds at a very slow rate in soils.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

Nitrification of melamine occurrs in soil at a low rate.
Melamine solutions (ca. 490 mg melamine/ kg soil) perfusing through soil slightly delayed the rate of nitrate formation from added ammonium, and caused a marked but temporary accumulation of nitrite.

Executive summary:

Nitrification of N released from cyanuric acid, ammelide, ammeline, or melamine varied inversely with the number of amino groups on the triazine ring. Nitrification of melamine and cyanuric acid from powders was slightly greater than from solutions and considerably greater than from granules of these materials. Melamine solutions perfusing through soil slightly inhibited the rate of nitrate formation from added ammonium, and caused a marked temporary accumulation of nitrite.

More nitrate was produced from triazine incubated in soil bottle cultures than from triazine perfusing through soil.