4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamic acid

Biodegradation in soil

Link to relevant study record(s)

Reference

Reference 1

Endpoint:

biodegradation in soil, other

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

weight of evidence

Study period:

1979

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

study well documented, meets generally accepted scientific principles, acceptable for assessment

Qualifier:

no guideline followed

Principles of method if other than guideline:

The purpose of this study was, therefore, to (i) determine the influence of a wide range of concentrations on the decomposition of some specifically 14Clabeled
phenolic compounds and benzoic acid in an acid and an alkaline soil, and (ii) compare the results obtained with that from 14C-labeled glucose, cellulose,
wheat straw and protein using a much greater range of concentrations than tested by previous workers using plant residues.

GLP compliance:

no

Test type:

laboratory

Radiolabelling:

yes

Oxygen conditions:

aerobic

Details on soil characteristics:

Chino loam (pH 5.6) and San Jacinto sandy loam (pH 8.0) topsoils were obtained from the field, air dried for 2 days, passed through a 2-mm sieve and 100-g portions weighed into 250 ml Erlenmeyer flasks.

Parameter followed for biodegradation estimation:

radiochem. meas.

Details on experimental conditions:

The phenolic substances and benzoic acid were applied in duplicate at concentrations of 1 to 10,000 ppm

Key result

% Degr.:

80

Parameter:

radiochem. meas.

Sampling time:

28 d

Remarks on result:

other: 1 ppm

Remarks:

Acid soil

Key result

% Degr.:

77

Parameter:

radiochem. meas.

Sampling time:

28 d

Remarks on result:

other: 100 ppm

Remarks:

acid soil

Transformation products:

not specified

Evaporation of parent compound:

not specified

Volatile metabolites:

not measured

Residues:

not measured

Details on results:

The influence of concentration on the decomposition rate of ring-14C benzoic and ferulic acids in initially sterilized and reinoculated Chino loam and San Jacinto sandy loam.

Ferulic acid, present at 100 ppm in Chino (California) loam with a pH of 5.6, underwent 77% decomposition via 14-CO2 evolution after 28 days.
In San Jacinto (California) sandy loam with a pH of 8, 100 ppm ferulic acid underwent 13% decomposition by 14-CO2 evolution over 28 days. This lower level of decomposition was thought to be due to polymerization of ferulic acid to humic acid type compounds

Ring-14C ferulic acid was highly stable at all concentrations in the alkaline soil and at concentrations of 1 to 100 in the acid soil. Carbon losses ranged from 40 to 78%, and 21 to 35% in the acid and alkaline soils, respectively.

Tests with 014CH3-C of ferulic acid showed that losses were not influenced by concentration and that compared to ring C much greater percentages had evolved as CO2 from both soils but the methoxyl C was still much more resistant to microbial degradatoin in the alkaline soil. Losses at 12 weeks were about 70% for the acid soil and 37% for the alkaline soil.

The influence of concentration on the decomposition rate of ring-14C benzoic and ferulic acids in initially sterilized and reinoculated Chino loam and San Jacinto sandy loam was also studied. In the acid soil C loss was over 80% at all concentrations for both compounds.

Conclusions:

The influence of concentration on the decomposition rate of ring-14C benzoic and ferulic acids in initially sterilized and reinoculated Chino loam and San Jacinto sandy loam.
Ferulic acid, present at 100 ppm in Chino (California) loam with a pH of 5.6, underwent 77% decomposition via 14-CO2 evolution after 28 days.
In San Jacinto (California) sandy loam with a pH of 8, 100 ppm ferulic acid underwent 13% decomposition by 14-CO2 evolution over 28 days. This lower level of decomposition was thought to be due to polymerization of ferulic acid to humic acid type compounds

Executive summary:

The decomposition of ring-14C-labeled ferulic acids and of O"CH3-labeled ferulic acid at concentrations of 1 to 10,000 ppm was followed in Chino loam (pH 5.6) and San Jacinto sandy loam (pH 8.0) over a 12-week incubation period.

The range for C loss for ferulic acid was 40 to 79% for the acid soil and 22 to 33% for the alkaline soil as the concentration increased from 1 to 10,000 ppm.

Loss of O14CH3 C of ferulic acid was not influenced by concentration. Percentage C loss from ring-14C ferulic and benzoic acids added to initially sterilized and reinoculated acid soil was about 82% and was not influenced by concentration.

Ferulic acid, present at 100 ppm in Chino (California) loam with a pH of 5.6, underwent 77% decomposition via 14-CO2 evolution after 28 days.

In San Jacinto (California) sandy loam with a pH of 8, 100 ppm ferulic acid underwent 13% decomposition by 14-CO2 evolution over 28 days. This lower level of decomposition was thought to be due to polymerization of ferulic acid to humic acid type compounds

Reference 2

Endpoint:

biodegradation in soil, other

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

weight of evidence

Study period:

1979

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

study well documented, meets generally accepted scientific principles, acceptable for assessment

Qualifier:

no guideline followed

Principles of method if other than guideline:

The purpose of this investigation was (i) to study the loss and stabilization in soil of side chain 1-, 2-, and 3-14C, O14CH3, and ring-14C of ferulic acid, an important lignin derived phenolic compound, and (ii) to compare this loss and stabilization with that of the carbons of common transformation products found during microbial metabolism of ferulic acid and of glucose.

GLP compliance:

no

Test type:

laboratory

Radiolabelling:

yes

Oxygen conditions:

aerobic

Details on soil characteristics:

Greenfield sandy loam (coarse-loamy, mixed thermic Typic Haploxeralf) top soil (pH 7.0) was used for the decomposition tests.

Key result

% Degr.:

72

Parameter:

radiochem. meas.

Remarks:

O14CH3 carbons.

Sampling time:

28 d

Remarks on result:

other: 100 ppm

% Degr.:

71

Parameter:

radiochem. meas.

Remarks:

O14CH3 carbons.

Sampling time:

28 d

Remarks on result:

other: 1000 ppm

% Degr.:

64

Parameter:

radiochem. meas.

Remarks:

The weighted average C loss

Sampling time:

12 wk

Remarks on result:

other: 100 ppm

% Degr.:

68

Parameter:

radiochem. meas.

Remarks:

The weighted average C loss

Sampling time:

12 wk

Remarks on result:

other: 1000 ppm

Transformation products:

not specified

Evaporation of parent compound:

not specified

Ferulic acid, present at 100 and 1000 ppm in Greenfield (California) sandy loam with a pH of 7, underwent 72% and 71% decomposition via 14-CO2 evolution in 28 days respectively using the greatest C loss occurred from the methoxyl.

Evolution of the various carbons during the 12-week incubation period varied from 44 to 75%. The greatest C loss occurred from the methoxyl and 3-side chain carbons and the least from the 2-side chain carbons. The weighted average C loss for the 100 and 1,000 ppm additions was 64 and 68%, respectively.

The smallest loss occurred from the 2-14C (side chain) and the greatest from the 3-14C (side chain) and the O14CH3 carbons.

Conclusions:

Ferulic acid, present at 100 and 1000 ppm in Greenfield (California) sandy loam with a pH of 7, underwent 72% and 71% decomposition via 14-CO2 evolution in 28 days respectively using the greatest C loss occurred from the methoxyl.

Executive summary:

In this study, side chain 1-14C, 2-14C, and 3-14C, O14CH3 and ring 14C-labeled ferulic acids were synthesized and incubated with Greenfield sandy loam top soil at rates of 100 and 1,000 ppm. The loss of the specifically labeled carbons as 14CO2 over a 12-week period ranged from 44 to 78% and averaged 64 and 68% for the 100 and 1,000 ppm additions, respectively. The smallest loss occurred from the 2-14C (side chain) and the greatest from the 3-14C (side chain) and the O14CH3 carbons.

This study indicates that the whole ferulic acid molecule is readily utilized by soil microbes.

Description of key information

Ferulic acid was subjected to two soil biodegradation tests under aerobic conditions.

The first study revealed a loss of the specifically labeled carbons as ¹⁴CO2 over a 4 -week period (28 days) ranged from 34 to 72% and averaged 56 and 65% for the 100 and 1,000 ppm additions, respectively. The second study, for its part, revealed a great variability in Ferulic acid degradability depending on the type of soil and associated pH. Ferulic acid, present at 100 ppm in Chino (California) loam [pH 5.6] underwent 77% decomposition via ¹⁴CO2 evolution after 28 days while In San Jacinto (California) sandy loam [pH 8], 100 ppm ferulic acid underwent 13%. This lower level of decomposition was thought to be due to polymerization of Ferulic acid to humic acid type compounds.

Under certain conditions, results of that type of testing can be a sufficient documentation for a rapid degradation in surface waters. Indeed, It has been argued that for many non-sorptive (non-lipophilic) substances, more or less the same degradation rates are found in soil and in surface water. 

Unfortunately, results of these testing do not suggest a rapid degradation of the substance in these conditions.