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Environmental fate & pathways

Biodegradation in water: screening tests

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Reference
Endpoint:
biodegradation in water: ready biodegradability
Type of information:
experimental study
Adequacy of study:
key study
Study period:
16 JAN - 14 FEB 2008
Reliability:
2 (reliable with restrictions)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
guideline study with acceptable restrictions
Qualifier:
according to guideline
Guideline:
OECD Guideline 301 F (Ready Biodegradability: Manometric Respirometry Test)
Qualifier:
according to guideline
Guideline:
EU Method C.4-D (Determination of the "Ready" Biodegradability - Manometric Respirometry Test)
GLP compliance:
no
Oxygen conditions:
aerobic
Inoculum or test system:
activated sludge, domestic, non-adapted
Details on inoculum:
- Source of inoculum/activated sludge : activated sludge from the aeration tank of a municipal biological waste water treatment plant (ARA Werdhölzi, Zürich), not adapted, not pre-conditioned
- Pretreatment: no
- Pretreatment: prior to the test the sludge was washed twice with tap water.
- Concentration of sludge: 30 mg/L dry matter in the final mixture
Duration of test (contact time):
28 d
Initial conc.:
100 mg/L
Based on:
ThOD/L
Initial conc.:
50.5 mg/L
Based on:
test mat.
Parameter followed for biodegradation estimation:
O2 consumption
Details on study design:
TEST CONDITIONS
- Composition of medium: Aerobic mineral salts medium
- Test temperature: 22 +/- 0.5 °C
- pH: 7.3 - 7.4
- Continuous darkness: yes, Thermostat cabinet in the dark
- Suspended solids concentration: 30 mg/L

TEST SYSTEM
- Culturing apparatus: 500 mL glass bottles (tightly closed with manometric BOD measuring devices) containing a total volume of test solution of 200 mL.
- Number of culture flasks/concentration: 2
- Measuring equipment: O2 update was measured by a manometric BOD measuring device,

SAMPLING
- Sampling frequency: daily

CONTROL AND BLANK SYSTEM
- Inoculum blank: 2 replicates
- Reference control: 1 replicate
- Abiotic sterile control: no
- Toxicity control: no
Reference substance:
benzoic acid, sodium salt
Remarks:
50.0 mg/L (83.3 mgThOD/L)
Key result
Parameter:
% degradation (O2 consumption)
Value:
95
Sampling time:
28 d
Results with reference substance:
Sodium benzoate reached 95% biodegradation after 14 days.

Validity criteria OECD 301F

Criterion from the guideline

Outcome

Validity criterion fulfilled

Difference of extremes of replicate values of the removal of the test chemical at the plateau, at the end of the test or at the end of the 10-d window, as appropriate, is less than 20%.

<14%

yes

Percentage degradation of the reference compound reached the pass level by day 14 (≥ 60%).

95% after 14 days.

yes

The toxicity control should degrade to at least 35% (based on DOC) or at least 25% (based on ThOD or ThCO2) within 14 d.

n.a.

n.a.

The oxygen uptake of the inoculum blank is normally 20-30 mg O2/L and should not be greater than 60 mg/L in 28 days.

22 mg/L

yes

Validity criteria fulfilled:
yes
Remarks:
Please refer to table 1 at "Any other information on results incl. tables"
Interpretation of results:
readily biodegradable

Description of key information

Readily biodegradable: 95% after 28 d (OECD 301F)

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Biodegradation in water:
readily biodegradable

Additional information

The ready biodegradability of Alcohols, C12 -14 ethoxylated was assessed in six reliable studies. All studies were conducted according or equivalent to OECD-, ISO- or EU-guidelines.

A study conducted according to OECD 301 F was assessed as key study (Kolb, 2008). The O2 consumption of non-adapted activated sludge at a test material concentration of 50.5 mg/L was followed for 28 days. A degradation rate of 95% was reached after 28 days and the ten-day window criterion was met.

In a second study conducted according to OECD 301 F, performed with a test substance concentration of 100 mg/L, a degradation rate of 64% after 28 days was determined. The ten-day window criterion was not met (Kolb, 2004). Two supporting studies following ISO guideline 14593 determined degradation rates of 125% and >60% based on CO2 evolution (Huntsman, 2006a/b). The tests were conducted with non-adapted activated sludge as inoculum and test substance concentrations of 13.5 mg/L and 27 mg/L respectively. In two supporting studies set up according to EU method C.4-D degradation rates of 78.6% and 71.2% based on O2 consumption were recorded (Rokita, 2005 and 2007). The test substance concentration in both tests was 100 mg/L.

In addition a short abstract on a study conducted according to EU method C.4-D a biodegradation rate of 79% after 28 days is reported based on O2 –consumption (BASF, 1998).

Based on the results of the available studies Alcohols, C12 -14 ethoxylated is assessed as readily biodegradable according to OECD criteria.