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EC number: 255-449-7 | CAS number: 41583-09-9
Biodegradation in water: screening tests
Administrative data
Link to relevant study record(s)
Description of key information
A weight of evidence approach with the read across substance melamine (CAS 108-78-1) is applied. Based on the reported studies, which are consistent in the result: melamine is not inherently biodegradable and also not readily biodegradable (% degradation (DOC removal) < 10 % in 28 days according to OECD 302 B (1992), (Taeger, 1993 (BASF SE)). Based on this result, the target substance is also considered to be not readily biodegradable. Biodegradation, also stepwise, to cyanuric acid and lastly to CO2 and NH4+ can occur in waste water treatment plants with adapted microorganisms.
Key value for chemical safety assessment
- Biodegradation in water:
- under test conditions no biodegradation observed
Additional information
No data with the target substance are available. A weight of evidence approach with the read across source substance melamine (CAS 108-78-1) is applied. Please refer section 13 for the read across justification of the test substance. As the substance is a water soluble salt of phosphate, effects can be read-across from the cation, which is likely to have the more important effects. In biological systems, phosphate is an abundant in cells and body fluids. In ecological terms, because of its important role in biological systems, phosphate is a highly sought-after resource. Thus, read-across from the source substance melamine CAS 108-78-1 is justified.
Test results of a MITI test for ready biodegradability (Nite, 2010), 3 Zahn-Wellens assays for inherent biodegradability (Taeger, 1993 (BASF SE), Pagga, 1991 (BASF SE) and Fimberger, 1997) and 2 studies on Biochemical Oxygen Demand (Niemi, 1997 and Swope, 1950) are reported. The individual results of the studies are consistent: melamine is considered to be not readily biodegradable and also not inherently biodegradable. The biodegradation degree was determined to be < 10 % according to OECD 302 B (1992) in Taeger, 1993 (BASF SE).
In Fimberger, 1997 is shown that the addition of glucose, in the absence of NH4+, enables the microorganisms to use melamine as only nitrogen source. With activated sludge taken from an industrial waste water treatment plant as the inoculum, a degradation of up to 16 % was observed within 20 d (Pagga, 1991 (BASF SE)). A rapid and complete primary degradation of the molecule within 8 h was detected with an activated sludge taken from an industrial waste water treatment plant from a producer of melamine (Fimberger 1997). Degradation occurs by hydrolytic deamination to ammeline, ammelide and cyanuric acid, and lastly to CO2 and NH4+ (Fimberger 1997). Based on these results the test substance is considered to be not ready biodegradable.
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