Registration Dossier

Diss Factsheets

Environmental fate & pathways

Biodegradation in water: screening tests

Currently viewing:

Administrative data

Link to relevant study record(s)

Description of key information

Results of ready biodegradation tests from reliable studies:
BOD20 (freshwater, non adapted) = 88% (BOD10=74%)
BOD28=92%
BOD28=73-77 (Closed bottle)
BOD28=74-75 (Modified Sturm)
BOD5 (freshwater) = 91%
BOD20 (freshwater) = 72%
BOD15 (freshwater) = 76%
BOD20 (saltwater, non adapted) = 75% (BOD10=64%)
BOD5 (freshwater, adapted) = 73%; BOD5 (freshwater, non adapted) = 31%

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Biodegradation in water:
readily biodegradable

Additional information

A number of biodegradation studies have been carried out using both adapted and unadapted innoculii and in both fresh and saltwater. The key study clearly indicates that 2 -butoxyethanol is readily biodegradable in freshwater with non adapted bacterial populations. Other studies support this conclusion and also provide evidence that adapted bacteria degrade 2 -butoxyethanol more rapidly than unadapted colonies. There is only a single study available in saltwater. This study suggested slightly slower degradation than in freshwater but still sufficiently rapidly that the substance can be regarded as readily biodegradable in salt water.