Registration Dossier

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Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.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

Stability

Photodegradation in air

No measured data on photodegradation/photolysis are available for TEA-Esterquats. Due to the very low emissions of TEA-Esterquats to air (negligible vapour pressure) the extent of photodegradation in air has no relevance for the environmental fate for this class of chemicals.

 

Hydrolysis

TEA-Esterquats are characterized by hydrophobic parts of the moieties “R” linked to the charged head group via ester bonds R-C(O)O-and are therefore expected to be subject to a gradual degradation by chemical or biological hydrolysis. This is supported by the test on hydrolysis for partially unsaturated TEA-Esterquat. Half-lives of 17 d (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.

According to REACH regulation (Annex VIII, 9.2.2.1 column 2) a hydrolysis test does not need to be conducted if the substance is readily biodegradable. As the TEA-Esterquats are determined to be readily biodegradable, biodegradable under anaerobic conditions and under different environmental conditions (water, sewage treatment plants) a study on hydrolysis is considered to be not necessary.

 

Biodegradation

Biodegradation in water: screening test

There are several reliable studies available for biodegradability screening tests of the TEA-Esterquats. The ready biodegradation of the test substance fully saturated TEA-Esterquat, hardened was investigated in a key study (Clariant GmbH, 2002) conducted according to OECD 301B (1992) over a period of 28 days and using activated sludge municipal sewage treatment plant as inoculum. The test substance was determined to be readily biodegradable (65 - 66% biodegradation after 28 days).

 

Transport and distribution

Adsorption/desorption

According to REACH regulation (Annex VIII, 9.3.1 column 2) an adsorption/desorption screening test does not need to be conducted, if the substance and its relevant degradation products decompose rapidly. As the TEA-Esterquats are determined to be readily biodegradable and are subject to degradation by hydrolysis, a study on adsorption/desorption is considered to be not necessary.