Reaction mass of 1-methyl-4-(4-methylpentyl)cyclohex-3-ene-1-carbaldehyde and 1-methyl-3-(4-methylpentyl)-3-cyclohexene-1-carboxaldehyde

Biodegradation in water: screening tests

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Biodegradation in water:

inherently biodegradable

Additional information

The Ready Biodegradability of Vernaldehyde has been determined in two ready biodegradability tests (Givaudan 2009, Givaudan 2014). Both are GLP studies, performed according to international accepted guidelines and using the Manometric Respirometry Test conditions (OECD 301F). The level of biodegradation achieved after 28 days was 27% and 41% respectively, which is insufficient to classify the substance as readily biodegradable.

The test concentrations employed in the two studies were 100mg/L and 30mg/L respectively, which are significantly higher than the water solubility of Vernaldehyde which is only 1.28mg/L. This means that the biodegradation rate will be controlled by the dissolution rate. This is indicated in the biodegradation curves which show a gradual increase in the percentage of biodegradation. Since a plateau was not reached in either study by day 28, the tests were prolonged. The biodegradation continued and reached a level of 50% after 60 days in the test conducted at 100mg/L (Givaudan 2009) and 65% after 60 days at the lower test item concentration of 30mg/L (Givaudan 2014). Based on these results, Vernaldehyde is considered to be inherently and ultimately biodegradable. Given that a level of >60% biodegradation was achieved indicates that the substance is not expected to be persistent in the environment.