Registration Dossier
Registration Dossier
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EC number: 200-579-1 | CAS number: 64-18-6
Endpoint summary
Administrative data
Description of key information
Additional information
Stability
Formic acid is hydrolytically stable (BASF AG, 2002).
In air, formic acid is expected to be photodegraded by OH-radicals with a half-life of 30.1 d (BASF AG, 2006).
Rate constants for photoransformation in water (selected values; Buxton et al., 1988):
k = 4.4E+05 M-1 * sec-1 (formic acid at pH 0.4 - 1)
k = 2.1E+08 M-1 * sec-1 (formate ion at pH 7)
Biodegradation
Formic acid and the formate ion are readily biodegradable (EU method C.4-B; OECD TG 301D) (BASF AG, 1988; HRC, 1992; NIVA, 2000).
Formic acid and the formate ion are readily biodegradable in seawater (Closed Bottle Test, OECD TG 306) (Price et al., 1974; Binnie, 1994).
Bioaccumulation
Formic acid has a measured log Kow of -2.1 (23 °C, pH 7), which is < 3 (BASF AG; 2007). The correspondingly calculated BCF is 3.2 (ECT, 2007). Therefore, significant bioaccumulation is not to be expected.
Transport and distribution
Formic acid (uncharged): Adsorption to the solid soil phase is not expected (BASF AG, 2002).
Formate ion: Adsorption to the solid soil phase is possible (BASF SE, 2009).
The Henry's Law Constant (HLC) of formic acid was determined to be 0.019 Pa m³/mol at 25 °C (Khan & Brimblecomb, 1992).
Following the Mackay Level I calculations, formic acid will preferentially distribute into the water (93.5 %)(ECT, 2007).
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