6,6',6''-(1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyltriimino)tris-hexanoic acid, compd. with 1-amino-2-propanol

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:

02 August to 14 September 2016

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

guideline study

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 301 B (Ready Biodegradability: CO2 Evolution Test)

Deviations:

yes

Remarks:

temperature deviation on Day 18 with no impact on results or integrity of the study (see below)

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

EU Method C.4-C (Determination of the "Ready" Biodegradability - Carbon Dioxide Evolution Test)

Deviations:

yes

Remarks:

temperature deviation on Day 18 with no impact on results or integrity of the study (see below)

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

EPA OPPTS 835.3110 (Ready Biodegradability)

Deviations:

yes

Remarks:

temperature deviation on Day 18 with no impact on results or integrity of the study (see below)

GLP compliance:

yes (incl. QA statement)

Oxygen conditions:

aerobic

Inoculum or test system:

sewage, predominantly domestic (adaptation not specified)

Details on inoculum:

INOCULUM
- A mixed population of activated sewage sludge micro-organisms was obtained on 15 August 2016 from the aeration stage of the Severn Trent Water Plc sewage treatment plant at Loughborough, Leicestershire, UK, which treats predominantly domestic sewage.

PREPARATION OF INOCULUM
- The activated sewage sludge sample was washed twice by settlement and re-suspension in mineral medium to remove any excessive amounts of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) that may have been present. The washed sample was then maintained on continuous aeration in the laboratory at a temperature of approximately 21 °C and used on the day of collection.
- Determination of the suspended solids level of the activated sewage sludge was carried out by filtering a sample (100 mL) of the washed activated sewage sludge by suction through pre-weighed GF/A filter paper (rinsed three times with 20 mL deionized reverse osmosis water prior to drying in an oven) using a Buchner funnel. Filtration was then continued for a further 3 minutes after rinsing the filter three successive times with 10 mL of deionized reverse osmosis water. The filter paper was then dried in an oven at approximately 105 ºC for at least 1 hour and allowed to cool before weighing. This process was repeated until a constant weight was attained. The suspended solids concentration was equal to 2.6 g/L prior to use.

Duration of test (contact time):

28 d

Initial conc.:

10 mg/L

Based on:

other: carbon

Parameter followed for biodegradation estimation:

CO2 evolution

Details on study design:

MEDIUM
- The mineral medium used in this study was that recommended in the OECD guidelines (see Annex 2, attached).

PRELIMINARY SOLUBILITY WORK
- In order to investigate whether the test item adsorbed to filter matrices and/or the activated sewage sludge, the following work was conducted and samples analyzed for Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) using a Shimadzu TOC-VCPH TOC analyzer (see Annex 3). During sample preparation, samples are either filtered or centrifuged to remove sewage sludge solids.
- A nominal amount of test item (100 mg) was dissolved in mineral medium (1 L) to give a 100 mg/L stock solution. Two samples were taken for DOC analysis; one untreated and one filtered through a 0.45 μm Gelman AcroCap filter (discarding the initial 5 mL to pre-condition the filter). A further nominal amount of test item (100 mg) was dissolved in mineral medium and inoculated at a concentration of 30 mg suspended solids (ss)/L prior to adjusting to a final volume of 1 L. Two samples were taken for DOC analysis; one after filtration through a 0.45 μm Gelman AcroCap filter (discarding the initial 5 mL to pre-condition the filter) and the other after centrifugation at 4000 g for 15 minutes. Control samples were prepared by inoculating mineral medium (1000 mL) at a suspended solids level of 30 mg ss/L and then filtering or centrifuging as per the test item samples.

TEST ITEM PREPARATION
- The test item was dispersed directly in mineral medium.
- A nominal amount of test item (300 mg) was dissolved in mineral medium with the aid of ultrasonication (approximately 5 minutes) and the volume adjusted to 1 L to give a 300 mg/L stock solution. An aliquot (285 mL) of this stock solution was dispersed in inoculated mineral medium and the volume adjusted to 3 L to give a final concentration of 28.5 mg/L, equivalent to 10 mg carbon/L. The volumetric flask containing the test item was inverted several times to ensure homogeneity of the solution.

REFERENCE ITEM PREPARATION
- A reference item, sodium benzoate (C6H5COONa), was used to prepare the procedure control vessels. An initial stock solution of 1000 mg/L was prepared by dissolving the reference item directly in mineral medium with the aid of ultrasonication for approximately 5 minutes.
- An aliquot (51.4 mL) of this stock solution was added to the test vessel containing inoculated mineral medium and the volume adjusted to 3 L to give a final test concentration of 17.1 mg/L, equivalent to 10 mg carbon/L. The volumetric flask containing the reference item was inverted several times to ensure homogeneity of the solution.

TOXICITY CONTROL
- A toxicity control, containing the test item and sodium benzoate, was prepared in order to assess any toxic effect of the test item on the sewage sludge micro-organisms used in the test.
- An aliquot (285 mL) of the test item stock solution was dispersed in inoculated mineral medium along with an aliquot (51.4 mL) of the sodium benzoate stock solution. The volume was adjusted to 3 liters to give a final concentration of 28.5 mg test item/L plus 17.1 mg sodium benzoate/L, equivalent to a total of 20 mg carbon/L.

PREPARATION OF THE TEST SYSTEM
- Test preparations were prepared and inoculated in 5 L test culture vessels each containing 3 L of solution.
(a) An inoculated control, in duplicate, consisting of inoculated mineral medium.
b) The procedure control containing the reference item (sodium benzoate), in duplicate, in inoculated mineral medium to give a final concentration of 10 mg carbon/L.
c) The test item, in duplicate, in inoculated mineral medium to give a final concentration of 10 mg carbon/L.
d) The test item plus the reference item in inoculated mineral medium to give a final concentration of 20 mg carbon/L to act as a toxicity control (one vessel only).
- Data from the inoculum control and procedure control vessels was shared with similar concurrent studies.
- Each test vessel was inoculated with the prepared inoculum at a final concentration of 30 mg suspended solids (ss)/L. The test was carried out in a temperature controlled room at temperatures of between 22 to 25 °C, in darkness. On Day 18 of the test the temperature in a vessel containing water which was incubated under the same conditions as the test vessels was recorded as being 24.5 °C. This was a deviation from the Study Plan which states the test will be conducted at a temperature of 22 ± 2 ºC. This deviation was considered to have not affected the integrity or validity of the study given that all validation criterion were met.
- Approximately 24 hours prior to addition of the test and reference items the vessels were filled with 2400 mL of mineral medium and 34.6 mL of inoculum and aerated overnight. On Day 0 the test and reference items were added and the pH of all vessels measured using a Hach HQ40d Flexi handheld meter prior to the volume in all the vessels being adjusted to 3 L by the addition of mineral medium which had been purged overnight with CO2 free air.
- The test vessels were sealed and CO2-free air bubbled through the solution at a rate of 30 to 100 mL/min per vessel and stirred continuously by magnetic stirrer.
- The CO2-free air was produced by passing compressed air through a glass column containing self-indicating soda lime (Carbosorb) granules.
- The CO2 produced by degradation was collected in two 500 mL Dreschel bottles containing 350 mL of 0.05 M NaOH. The CO2 absorbing solutions were prepared using purified water.

OBSERVATIONS
- The appearance of the test preparations was recorded on Days 0, 6, 13, 20, and 27.

MEASUREMENT of pH
- The pH of the test preparations was determined using a Hach HQ40d Flexi handheld meter on Day 0 and on Day 28 prior to acidification with hydrochloric acid.

VALIDATION CRITERIA
- The results of the degradation test are considered valid if in the same test the reference item yields ≥ 60 % degradation (in a 10-day window) by Day 14.
- The test item may be considered to be readily biodegradable if ≥ 60 % degradation is attained within 28 days. This level of degradation must be reached within 10 days of biodegradation exceeding 10 %.
- The toxicity control (test item and sodium benzoate) should attain ≥ 25 % degradation by Day 14 for the test item to be considered non-inhibitory.
- The test is considered valid if the difference of the extremes of replicate values of production of CO2 at the time the plateau is reached, at the end of the test or at the end of the 10-day window, is less than 20 %.
- The total CO2 evolution in the inoculum control vessels on Day 28 of the test should not normally exceed 40 mg/L medium (= 120 mg/3 L corresponding to 33 mg C per flask). However, values up to 70 mg/L are acceptable. Data from studies where values in excess of 70 mg/L are obtained should be critically examined.
- The IC content of the test item suspension in the mineral medium at the beginning of the test should be < 5 % of the TC.

MAJOR COMPUTERISED SYSTEMS
- TOC measurement: Shimadzu TOC
- Building management: Delta control system

Key result

Parameter:

% degradation (CO2 evolution)

Value:

65

Sampling time:

28 d

Details on results:

PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIONAL WORK
- The results obtained from the samples taken for DOC analysis from the preliminary investigational work indicated that the test item did not adsorb to filter matrices and activated sewage sludge (see Annex 3, attached).
- For the purpose of the study, the samples taken for DOC analysis were centrifuged to remove the suspended solids present.

DEFINITIVE TEST
- Inorganic carbon values for the test item, procedure control, toxicity control and inoculum control vessels at each analysis occasion are given in Table 1 (attached).
- Percentage biodegradation values of the test and reference items and the toxicity control are given in Table 2 (attached) and the biodegradation curves are presented in Figure 1 (attached).
- Total and Inorganic Carbon values in the culture vessels on Day 0 are given in Table 3 (attached).
- The pH values of the test preparations on Days 0 and 28 are given in Table 4 (attached).
- Observations made on the contents of the test vessels are given in Table 5 (attached).

VALIDATION CRITERIA
- The total CO2 evolution in the inoculum control vessels on Day 28 was 26.62 mg/L and therefore satisfied the validation criterion given in the OECD Test Guidelines.
- The IC content of the test item suspension in the mineral medium at the start of the test (see Table 3, attached) was below 5% of the TC content and hence satisfied the validation criterion given in the OECD Test Guidelines.
- The difference between the values for CO2 production at the end of the test for the replicate vessels was <20% and hence satisfied the validation criterion given in the OECD Test Guidelines.

BIODEGRADATION
- Acidification of the test vessels on Day 28 followed by the final analyses on Day 29 was conducted according to the methods specified in the Test Guidelines. This acidification effectively kills the micro-organisms present and drives off any dissolved CO2 present in the test vessels. Therefore, any additional CO2 detected in the Day 29 samples originated from dissolved CO2 that was present in the test vessels on Day 28 and hence the biodegradation value calculated from the Day 29 analyses is taken as being the final biodegradation value for the test item.
- The results of the inorganic carbon analysis of samples from the first absorber vessels on Day 29 showed an increase in all replicate vessels with the exception of test item Replicates 1 and 2 and the toxicity control.
- Inorganic carbon analysis of the samples from the second absorber vessels on Day 29 confirmed that no significant carry-over of CO2 into the second absorber vessels occurred.
- The test item attained 65 % biodegradation after 28 days and satisfied the 10-Day window validation criterion, whereby 60 % biodegradation must be attained within 10 days of the biodegradation exceeding 10 %. The test item can therefore be considered to be readily biodegradable under the strict terms and conditions of OECD Guideline No. 301B.
- The toxicity control attained 72 % biodegradation after 14 days and 71 % biodegradation after 28 days thereby confirming that the test item did not exhibit an inhibitory effect on the sewage treatment micro-organisms used in the test. The slight decrease in biodegradation between days 14 and 28 was considered to be due to sampling/analytical variation.

Results with reference substance:

RESULTS WITH REFERENCE SUBSTANCE
- Sodium benzoate attained 81 % biodegradation after 14 days and 79 % biodegradation after 28 days thereby confirming the suitability of the inoculum and test conditions.
- The slight decrease in biodegradation between days 14 and 28 was considered to be due to sampling/analytical variation.

Validity criteria fulfilled:

yes

Interpretation of results:

readily biodegradable

Conclusions:

The test item attained 65% biodegradation after 28 days and satisfied the 10-Day window validation criterion, whereby 60 % biodegradation must be attained within 10 days of the biodegradation exceeding 10 %. The test item can therefore be considered to be readily biodegradable under the strict terms and conditions of OECD Guideline No. 301B.

Executive summary:

GUIDELINE

A study was performed to assess the ready biodegradability of the test item in an aerobic aqueous medium. The method followed was designed to be compatible with the OECD Guidelines for Testing of Chemicals (1992) No. 301B, "Ready Biodegradability; CO2 Evolution Test" referenced as Method C.4-C of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 440/2008 and US EPA Fate, Transport, and Transformation Test Guidelines OCSPP 835.3110 (Paragraph (m)).

 

METHODS

The test item, at a concentration of 10 mg carbon/L, was exposed to activated sewage sludge micro-organisms with mineral medium in sealed culture vessels in the dark at temperatures of between 22 and 25 °C for 28 days. biodegradation of the test item was assessed by the determination of carbon dioxide produced. Control solutions with inoculum and the reference item, sodium benzoate, together with a toxicity control were used for validation purposes.

 

RESULTS

The test item attained 65% biodegradation after 28 days and satisfied the 10-Day window validation criterion, whereby 60 % biodegradation must be attained within 10 days of the biodegradation exceeding 10 %. The test item can therefore be considered to be readily biodegradable under the strict terms and conditions of OECD Guideline No. 301B.

Description of key information

The test item attained 65 % biodegradation after 28 days and satisfied the 10-Day window validation criterion, whereby 60 % biodegradation must be attained within 10 days of the biodegradation exceeding 10 %. The test item can therefore be considered to be readily biodegradable (OECD 301 B, EU Method C.4 -C and OCSPP 835.3110).

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Biodegradation in water:

readily biodegradable

Additional information

GUIDELINE

A study was performed to assess the ready biodegradability of the test item in an aerobic aqueous medium. The method followed was designed to be compatible with the OECD Guidelines for Testing of Chemicals (1992) No. 301B, "Ready Biodegradability; CO2 Evolution Test" referenced as Method C.4-C of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 440/2008 and US EPA Fate, Transport, and Transformation Test Guidelines OCSPP 835.3110 (Paragraph (m)).

 

METHODS

The test item, at a concentration of 10 mg carbon/L, was exposed to activated sewage sludge micro-organisms with mineral medium in sealed culture vessels in the dark at temperatures of between 22 and 25 °C for 28 days. biodegradation of the test item was assessed by the determination of carbon dioxide produced. Control solutions with inoculum and the reference item, sodium benzoate, together with a toxicity control were used for validation purposes.

 

RESULTS

The test item attained 65% biodegradation after 28 days and satisfied the 10-Day window validation criterion, whereby 60 % biodegradation must be attained within 10 days of the biodegradation exceeding 10 %. The test item can therefore be considered to be readily biodegradable under the strict terms and conditions of OECD Guideline No. 301B.