Fatty acids, C16-18, reaction products with triethanolamine, di-Me sulfate-quaternized

Endpoint summary

Additional information

Hydrolysis

Fully saturated TEA-Esterquat is readily biodegradable. Therefore, a hydrolysis study is not required. However, supporting data are available for the structurally related source substance partially unsaturated TEA-Esterquat:

The hydrolysis of partially unsaturated TEA-Esterquat as a function of pH was investigated in a study conducted according to OECD Guideline 111 and EU-method C.7. (Preliminary test; main test not conducted due to the pronounced biodegradability of the test substance).

At pH 4 and 50°C, the degradation of the main component of partially unsaturated TEA-EQ was less than 10% over a period of 120 h. The corresponding half-life at 25°C is therefore assumed to be above one year (default assumption acc. to guidelines). In contrast, at pH 7 and 9 and 50°C, more than 10% of the test item were hydrolysed within 120 h. Based on the results half-lives of 17 (pH 7) and 11.3 d (pH 9) were deduced from the reaction rate constants at 25°C. Di- and mono-ester were detected as degradation products

 

Biodegradation

Aerobic biodegradation

The ready biodegradation of the test substance fully saturated TEA-Esterquat, hardened was investigated in a study conducted according to OECD Guideline 301B (Ready Biodegradability: CO2 Evolution Test; adopted 1992) over a period of 28 days and using activated sludge municipal sewage treatment plant as inoculum. The biodegradation rate was determined by measurement of CO2 evolution. Inoculum blank, procedural/functional control with the reference substance sodium and toxicity control using 20.8 mg/L sodium benzoate and 20.9 mg/L test substance were performed. This study is regarded as reliable with restriction and satisfies the guideline requirements for ready biodegradation. The test substance proved to be readily biodegradable (65 -66% after 28 d; according to the revised OECD Guidelines the 10-d window should not be applied to interpret the results of a test with a mixture of structurally similar chemicals) in a study conducted according OECD Guideline 301 B (Ready Biodegradability: CO2 Evolution Test; adopted 1992).

 

Further studies on ready biodegradation are available for the structurally related source substance partially unsaturated TEA-Esterquat:

Several test according to OECD Guideline 301 D (Closed Bottle Test), OECD Guideline 301 C (modified MITI test), OECD guideline 301 F (manometric respirometry test) and OECD Guideline 301 B (CO2 Evolution Test) proved the ready biodegradation of partially unsaturated TEA-Esterquat under aerobic conditions.

One study according to ECETOC Anaerobic Biodegradation (Technical Report No. 28) proved the biodegradation of partially unsaturated TEA-Esterquat under anaerobic conditions.

 

Anaerobic biodegradation

The anaerobic biodegradation of the source substance partially unsaturated TEA-Esterquat was investigated in a study conducted according to ECETOC Anaerobic Biodegradation (Technical Report No. 28) over a period of 56 days and using anaerobic sludge bacteria from a municipal wastewater treatment plant as inoculum. The biodegradation rate was determined by measurement of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). This study is regarded as reliable with restriction and satisfies the guideline requirements for anaerobic biodegradation. The test material attained 76% degradation after 56 days and therefore can be considered as biodegradable under anaerobic conditions.

 

Simulation test

Fully saturated TEA-Esterquat is readily biodegradable. Therefore, simulation testing in water and sediment is not required.

However, supporting data are available for the structurally related source substance partially unsaturated TEA-Esterquat: The aerobic biodegradation of the source substance partially unsaturated TEA-Esterquat was studied in a test according to OECD Guideline 303 A (Simulation Test - Aerobic Sewage Treatment. A: Activated Sludge Units) and in compliance with the – GLP standards. Activated sludge was collected from the aeration tank of a waste water treatment plant treating predominantly municipal sewage. The test system consisted of 2 laboratory waste water treatment plants (one receiving test material, one did not receive test material (control); the units were not coupled). After periods of stabilizing and adaptation; increasing amounts of partially unsaturated TEA-Esterquat were introduced into the system: 2.5 mg to 20 mg/L DOC. Degradation was followed by DOC measurements in the influent and effluent of the model waste water treatment plant.  Samples were analyzed at day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 23.  The test substance was biodegraded by 84.9% on average during 23 d.

 

Bioaccumulation

No experimental data on bioaccumulation is available for the target substance fully saturated TEA-Esterquat. However, data from the structurally related substance DODMAC (Dimethyldioctadecylammonium chloride) is provided. A justification for read-across is given in section “Bioaccumulation: aquatic / sediment”.

For the target substance fully saturated TEA-Esterquat a BCF of the same order of magnitude and not higher than DODMAC (13 L/kg) is to be expected.

 

Adsorption / desorption

No data on adsorption/desorption is available for the target substance fully saturated TEA-Esterquat. However, data from the structurally related substance DODMAC (Dimethyldioctadecylammonium chloride) is provided. A justification for read-across is given in section “Adsorption / desorption”.

DODMAC has a chemical structure similar to that of fully saturated TEA-Esterquat. The chemical structure of the registration substance includes, in contrast to DODMAC, two polar ester moieties, which will lower adsorption potential. Thus, DODMAC could be considered as a worst case. No calculated Koc is provided for p fully saturated TEA-Esterquat, but instead the value obtained with the structurally closely related substance DODMAC (10,000 L/kg dw for both Kp(sed) and Kp(soil)) is used for chemical safety assessment.