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Environmental fate & pathways

Biodegradation in water: screening tests

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Description of key information

Rapidly biodegradable

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Additional information

Reaction mass of bis(2-hydroxyethanaminium) sulfite and 2-(methylamino)ethanol - oxosulfane oxide (1:1) is soluble in water and dissociates to 2 -(methylamino)ethanol, (2- hydroxyethyl)ammonium and sulphite ions. Since no studies on the ready biodegradability of the substance are available, the biodegradability assessment has been performed with the substance’s dissociation products. For this purpose, 2-aminoethanol, 2 -(methylamino)ethanol and sodium sulphite have been consulted for the evaluation on a read-across approach.

According to the key-study conducted by BASF AG 1988 following OECD guideline 301A and several supporting guideline studies, 2 -aminoethanol is readily biodegradable.

According to the key-study conducted by BASF AG 1993 following OECD guideline 301A 2 -(methylamino)ethanol is readily biodegradable.

A ready biodegradation study does not need to be conducted with sodium sulphite since the substance is inorganic (Annex VII, REACH). In addition, many bacterial species are known to oxidize sulfur compounds. Prokaryotes oxidize hydrogen sulfide, sulfur, sulfite, thiosulfate, and various polythionates under alkaline, neutral, or acidic conditions (Friedrich et al., 2001; Dahl, 2000). Reaction rates however for environmental compartments or elimination rates for biological treatment plants are not reported.

Nevertheless, it can be concluded that the substance is expected to be rapidly biodegradable.