Pyrocatechol

Biodegradation in water and sediment: simulation tests

Administrative data

Endpoint:

biodegradation in water: sewage treatment simulation testing

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

comparable to guideline study with acceptable restrictions

Remarks:

This experiment is issued from a publication testing the biodegradability of catechol in several different tests. All of them showed uniform results concluding catechol is well biodegraded. This consistency of the results reinforce the reliability of the global publication. The present experiment is relatively well described, with the restriction that the purity of catechol is not mentioned.

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

A correlation study of biodegradability determinations with various chemicals in various tests.

Author:

Gerike P., Fischer W.K.

Year:

1979

Bibliographic source:

Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf., 3, 159-173.

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

equivalent or similar to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 303 A (Simulation Test - Aerobic Sewage Treatment. A: Activated Sludge Units)

Deviations:

not specified

GLP compliance:

no

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Pyrocatechol

EC Number:

204-427-5

EC Name:

Pyrocatechol

Cas Number:

120-80-9

Molecular formula:

C6H6O2

IUPAC Name:

pyrocatechol

Details on test material:

no data

Radiolabelling:

not specified

Study design

Oxygen conditions:

aerobic

Inoculum or test system:

other: communal sewage treatment plant (non adapted)

Details on source and properties of surface water:

No data

Details on inoculum:

The test was started with 2.5 g/l of dry matter of sludge from a communal sewage treatment plant.
No further data.

Initial test substance concentration

Initial conc.:

>= 12 mg/L

Based on:

test mat.

Parameter followed for biodegradation estimation:

DOC removal

Details on study design:

The test was performed under steady-state conditions, i.e. as a continuous flow system, and to employ an organic base medium, i.e. to maintain nutrient competition at all times.

Results and discussion

% Degradation

% Degr.:

98

St. dev.:

4

Parameter:

DOC removal

Sampling time:

0 d

Remarks on result:

other: sampling in the "working-in time"

Transformation products:

not measured

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Validity criteria

Validity criteria fulfilled:

not specified

Conclusions:

Catechol is biodegradable under the tested conditions.

Executive summary:

In a study (Gericke, 1979), the biodegradability of the substance Catechol (unknown purity, initial concentration >= 12 mg/L), was tested in a coupled units simulation test, according to OECD guideline 303A.

Inoculum used in this study was  2.5 g/l of dry matter of non adapted sludge from a communal sewage treatment plant.

The percentage of biodegradation was estimated by following the DOC removal.

The corresponding percentage of biodegradation obtained was 98% of DOC removal after a working-in time of 0 day.

Under the test conditions, Catechol is considered as biodegradable.