[No public or meaningful name is available]

Biodegradation in water: screening tests

Link to relevant study record(s)

Reference

Endpoint:

biodegradation in water: ready biodegradability

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

From 10 April 2019 to 09 May 2019

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

guideline study

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 301 D (Ready Biodegradability: Closed Bottle Test)

Deviations:

yes

Remarks:

Ammonium chloride was omitted from the medium to prevent oxygen consumption due to nitrification (omission does not result in nitrogen limitation as shown by the biodegradation of the reference compound), and river water was used as inoculum.

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

EU Method C.4-E (Determination of the "Ready" Biodegradability - Closed Bottle Test)

Deviations:

yes

Remarks:

Ammonium chloride was omitted from the medium to prevent oxygen consumption due to nitrification (omission does not result in nitrogen limitation as shown by the biodegradation of the reference compound), and river water was used as inoculum.

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

ISO 10707 Water quality - Evaluation in an aqueous medium of the "ultimate" aerobic biodegradability of organic compounds - Method by analysis of biochemical oxygen demand (closed bottle test)

Deviations:

not specified

GLP compliance:

yes

Specific details on test material used for the study:

- Storage conditions: At 2-8 °C in the dark
- Molecular weight: 192,30 g/mol
- Water solubility: 40,03 mg/L (OECD TG 105, flask modified slow-stir method, LPL 2019)
- Vapour pressure: 1,3 Pa at 20°C and 2,4 Pa at 25°C (OECD TG 104, effusion method: knudsen cell, LPL 2018)
- log Kow: 3,89 (OECD TG 123, slow-stir method, LPL 2019)

Oxygen conditions:

aerobic

Inoculum or test system:

natural water

Remarks:

river water

Details on inoculum:

River water was sampled from the Rhine near Heveadorp, The Netherlands (04-04-2019). The nearest plant (Arnhem-Zuid) treating domestic wastewater biologically was 3 km upstream. The river water was aerated for 7 days before use to reduce the endogenous respiration (van Ginkel and Stroo, 1992). River water without particles was used as inoculum. The particles were removed by sedimentation after 1 day while moderately aerating.

River water was selected as inoculum based on the non-GLP screening test performed with both activated sludge and river water.

Duration of test (contact time):

28 d

Initial conc.:

2 mg/L

Based on:

test mat.

Parameter followed for biodegradation estimation:

O2 consumption

Details on study design:

- Test bottles:
The test was performed in 0.30 L BOD (biological oxygen demand) bottles with glass stoppers.

- Nutrients, and stocks:
The river water used in the Closed Bottle test was spiked per liter of water with 8.5 mg KH2PO4, 21.75 mg K2HPO4, 33.4 mg Na2HPO4·2H2O, 22.5 mg MgSO4·7H2O, 27.5 mg CaCl2, 0.25 mg FeCl3·6H2O. Ammonium chloride was not added to the river water to prevent nitrification. Accurate administering of the test substance was accomplished by preparing a solid stock of 3.0 mg of test substance per g of silica gel in a 50-mL serum flask. Only part of the top layer of the silica gel was brought into contact with the test substance. The serum flask was closed with a screw top and the content was mixed vigorously. Subsequently, 0.20 g of silica gel with the test substance was added to the test bottles. The resulting concentration of test substance in the bottles was 2.0 mg/L. Next the bottles were filled with nutrient medium with inoculum and closed. Sodium acetate was added to the bottles using aqueous stock solution of 1.0 g/L.

- Test procedures:
Use was made of 10 bottles containing only river water, 10 bottles containing river water and silica gel, 10 bottles containing river water and silica gel with test substance, 6 bottles containing river water and sodium acetate. The concentrations of the test substance, and sodium acetate in the bottles were 2.0 mg/L and 6.7 mg/L, respectively. Each of the prepared solutions was dispensed into the respective group of BOD bottles so that all bottles were completely filled without air bubbles. The zero time bottles were immediately analyzed for dissolved oxygen using an oxygen electrode. The remaining bottles were closed and incubated in the dark. Two duplicate bottles of all series were withdrawn for analyses of the dissolved oxygen concentration at day 7, 14, 21, and 28.

- Analyses:
The dissolved oxygen concentrations were determined electrochemically using an oxygen electrode and meter (WTW). The pH was measured using an Eutech pH meter. The temperature was measured and recorded with a sensor connected to a data logger.

Reference substance:

acetic acid, sodium salt

Remarks:

Purity: 99.9%; Batch n° BCBP8197V

Key result

Parameter:

% degradation (O2 consumption)

Value:

36

Sampling time:

28 d

Details on results:

- Theoretical oxygen demand (ThOD): The calculated theoretical oxygen demand (ThOD) of the main constituent of the test item is 2.92 g oxygen/g test substance. The ThOD was calculated with the molecular formula of the test item derived from its structure. The ThOD of sodium acetate is 0.78 g oxygen/g sodium acetate.
- Biodegradability: The test substance was biodegraded by 36% at day 28 in the Closed Bottle test. The test substance should therefore not be classified as readily biodegradable. The biodegradation curve levels off below 60% biodegradation suggesting partial degradation of the test substance. The lack of complete biodegradation in the Closed Bottle test does not mean that part of the test substance is recalcitrant in nature because the stringency of the test procedures could account for the recalcitrance in the Closed Bottle test.
- Test conditions: The pH of the media was 8.1 (control, control with silica gel, reference) and 8.0 (test) at the start of the test. The pH of the medium at day 28 was 7.9 (controls and test). The temperature ranged from 22.7 to 22.9 °C which is within the prescribed temperature range of 22 to 24°C.
- Toxicity: Inhibition of the degradation of a well-degradable compound, e.g. sodium acetate by the test substance in the Closed Bottle test was not determined because possible toxicity of the test substances to microorganisms degrading acetate is not relevant. Inhibition of the endogenous respiration of the inoculum by the test substance at day 7 was not detected. Therefore, no inhibition of the biodegradation due to the "high" initial test substance concentration is expected.

Results with reference substance:

The biodegradation percentage of the reference compound, sodium acetate, at day 14 was 92 (see table 5.2.1/2 in "Any other information on results incl. tables").

Table 5.2.1/1: Dissolved oxygen concentrations (mg/L) in the closed bottles

Time (days)	Oxygen concentration (mg/L)
	Oc	Oa	Ocs	Ot
0	8.7	8.7	8.8	8.9
	8.7	8.7	8.9	8.9
Mean (M)	8.70	8.70	8.85	8.90
7	8.1	4.0	8.2	7.7
	8.2	4.0	8.2	7.8
Mean (M)	8.15	4.00	8.20	7.75
14	7.9	3.1	7.9	6.5
	7.9	3.1	7.9	6.6
Mean (M)	7.90	3.10	7.90	6.55
21	7.8		7.80	6.0
	7.8		7.80	5.8
Mean (M)	7.80		7.80	5.90
28	7.6		7.7	5.6
	7.6		7.6	5.7
Mean (M)	7.60		7.65	5.65

O_c     River water with nutrients.

O_cs    River water with nutrients and silica gel

O_t      River water with nutrients, test substance (2.0 mg/L) and silica gel

O_a      River water with nutrients and sodium acetate (6.7 mg/L).

Table 5.2.1/2: Oxygen consumptio (mg/L) and the percentages biodegradation of the test substance (BOD/ThOD) and sodium acetate (BOD/ThOD) in the Closed Bottle test

Time (days)	Oxygen consumption (mg/L)		Biodegradation (%)
	Test substance	Acetate	Test substance	Acetate
0	-0.05^*	0.00	0	0
7	0.45	4.15	8	79
14	1.35	4.80	24	92
21	1.90		34
28	2.00		36

^*The slightly negative calculated oxygen consumption at day 0 is a result of the inaccuracy of the test and should be interpreted as no oxygen consumption.

Validity criteria fulfilled:

yes

Remarks:

Endogenous respiration of 1.21 mg/L at day 28. The differences of the replicate values at day 28 were less than 20%. The biodegradation of sodium acetate at day 14 was 92%. Oxygen concentrations >0.5 mg/L in all bottles during the test period.

Interpretation of results:

not readily biodegradable

Conclusions:

The test item was biodegraded by 36% at day 28 in the OECD 301D Closed Bottle test and should therefore not be classified as readily biodegradable.

Executive summary:

To assess the biotic degradation of the test substance, a ready biodegradability test was performed which allows the biodegradability to be measured in an aerobic aqueous medium. The ready biodegradability was determined in the Closed Bottle test performed according to slightly modified OECD, EU and ISO Test Guidelines, and in compliance with the OECD principles of Good Laboratory Practice.

The test item did not cause a reduction in the endogenous respiration at day 7. The test substance is therefore considered to be non-inhibitory to the inoculum. The test item was biodegraded by 36% at day 28 in the OECD 301D Closed Bottle test and should therefore not be classified as readily biodegradable. The biodegradation curve levels off below 60% biodegradation suggesting partial degradation of the test substance. The lack of complete biodegradation in the Closed Bottle test does not mean that part of the test substance is recalcitrant in nature because the stringency of the test procedures could account for the recalcitrance in the Closed Bottle test.

The test is valid as shown by an endogenous respiration of 1.1 mg/L and by the total mineralization of the reference compound, sodium acetate. Sodium acetate was degraded by 92% of its theoretical oxygen demand after 14 days. Finally, the most important criterion was met by oxygen concentrations >0.5 mg/L in all bottles during the test period.

Description of key information

OECD Guideline 301D, EU Method C4 -E, ISO 10707, GLP, Key study, validity 1:

36% biodegradation after 28 days, with river water

Not readily biodegradable

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Type of water:

freshwater

Additional information

To assess the biodegradation potential of the registered substance, one experimental key study is available.

This valid study (Nouryon, 2019) was performed on the registered substance according to slighty modified OECD 301D, EU C.4 -E and ISO 10707 Test Guidelines and in compliance with the OECD principles of Good Laboratory Practice. The test substance was exposed to river water at a concentration of 2 mg/L with culture medium in closed bottles in the dark at 22-24 °C for 28 days. The degradation of the test substance was assessed by the measurement of oxygen consumption. According to the results of this study, the test substance did not cause a reduction in the endogenous respiration at day 7. The test substance is therefore considered to be non-inhibitory to the inoculum. The test substance was biodegraded by 36% at day 28 and should therefore not be classified as readily biodegradable. The biodegradation curve levels off below 60% and above 20% biodegradation suggesting a partial and primary biodegradation of the test substance. The lack of complete biodegradation in the Closed Bottle test does not mean that part of the test substance is recalcitrant in nature because the stringency of the test procedures could account for the recalcitrance in the Closed Bottle test. The test is valid as shown by an endogenous respiration of 1.1 mg/L and by the total mineralization of the reference compound, sodium acetate. Sodium acetate was degraded by 92% of its theoretical oxygen demand after 14 days. Finally, the most important criterion was met by oxygen concentrations >0.5 mg/L in all bottles during the test period.