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Diss Factsheets

Environmental fate & pathways

Biodegradation in water: screening tests

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Administrative data

Link to relevant study record(s)

Description of key information

The results from the ready biodegradability studies for GTL Base Oil Distillates ranged from 11-67% after 28d. The main factors influencing the results include the guideline/method followed, the dosing method and the viscosity/composition of the test substance.   
 
In general the biodegradability of the substances decrease as the viscosity (and hence carbon chain length/degree of branching) increases. In fact the lowest viscosity substances almost meet the criteria for ready biodegradability. Please refer to section 4.1.2.1.5 of the CSR for further details.
 
Overall GTL Base Oil Distillates is not considered to be readily biodegradable but is expected to be inherently biodegradable.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Biodegradation in water:
inherently biodegradable

Additional information

A large data set is available for whole product fractions of a range of GTL substances. The total solubility of constituents of these substances is <1 mg/l. Therefore, when the test substance is loaded into the medium at concentrations higher than this limit, the extent and rate of dissolution into water can be expected to influence the result of a ready biodegradation test. In such studies no measurements of the dissolved organic carbon from the substance are possible and therefore it cannot be known how much bioavailable (dissolved) constituents were present. The highest levels of reported degradation are those which should be given most weight in hazard assessment and risk characterisation.

The 10-day window is not a necessary criterion for this type of substance, which is a UVCB and contains many structurally similar constituents (OECD, 2005).

 

A large number of tests for ready biodegradability have been conducted for a range of GTL Base Oil Distillates substances with different viscosities, including the three grades (3, 4 and 8 cSt) relevant for supply in the EU.

 

The results from the ready biodegradability studies for GTL Base Oil Distillates ranged from 11-67% after 28d. The main factors influencing the results include the guideline/method followed; the dosing method and the viscosity/composition of the test substance.   

 

In general the biodegradability of the substances decrease as the viscosity (and hence carbon chain length/degree of branching) increases. In fact the lowest viscosity substances almost meet the criteria for ready biodegradability. Please refer to section 4.1.2.1.5 of the CSR for further details.

 

Overall GTL Base Oil Distillates is not considered to be readily biodegradable but is expected to be inherently biodegradable.