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Environmental fate & pathways

Biodegradation in water: screening tests

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Description of key information

There are several studies available on ready biodegradability with MCA. These were conducted according to OECD guideline 301 B-E. Four results clearly indicate that MCA is readily biodegradable, i.e. 60 -70% within a time-window of 10 -14 days. This result is also supported by the inherent biodegradation results. In all inherent test MCA was (nearly) 100% biodegraded between 6 and 28 days.

One biodegradability study performed under anaerobic conditions (Egli, 1989) showed that MCA is also rapidly degradable under these conditions. Measured rates of reduction of 86 -90% within 2 days at 34 °C were found.

Under aerobic as well as anaerobic conditions MCA is fully mineralized.

These findings are supported by an inherent biodegradability study (Zahn and Wellens, 1974) with SMCA.

SMCA is also regarded readily biodegradable.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Biodegradation in water:
readily biodegradable
Type of water:
freshwater

Additional information