Registration Dossier
Registration Dossier
Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.
The new ECHA CHEM database has been released by ECHA, and it now contains all REACH registration data. There are more details on the transition of ECHA's published data to ECHA CHEM here.
Use of this information is subject to copyright laws and may require the permission of the owner of the information, as described in the ECHA Legal Notice.
EC number: 202-830-0 | CAS number: 100-21-0
Biodegradation in water: screening tests
Administrative data
Link to relevant study record(s)
Description of key information
Terepthalic acid has been tested for ready biodegradability by two respirometric methods where the degradation "pass" level that conventionally represents complete mineralisation is 60%. In a GLP-compliant (Klimisch 1) study based on CO2 evolution (Lebertz, 1991a), 85.2% and 82.6% degradation occurred within 14 days at concentrations of 10 and 20 mg TPA/L, respectively and the 60% pass level was exceeded within 5 days. Recovery of CO2 provides a direct and unambiguous indication of the mineralisation of the test substance.
Confirmatory data (Klimisch 2) are provided by a study performed in fulfilment of the requirements of the Chemical Substances Control Law of Japan (CITI, 1976). In this study, 74.7% degradation of TPA dosed at 100 mg/L was recorded in 14 days by the principal indicator of mineralisation based on oxygen uptake measurements. HPLC and UV-VIS spectrometric analyses showed 99.3% and 100% loss of the parent substance, respecively, during the 14-d incubation.
These results show that terephthalic acid is readily biodegradable.
Key value for chemical safety assessment
- Biodegradation in water:
- readily biodegradable
Additional information
Terephthalic acid is readily biodegradable and may therefore be expected to undergo rapid and complete mineralisation (transformation to terminal oxidation products without forming stable metabolites) in aerobic compartments of aquatic and terrestrial environments. Extensive biodegradation may also be expected to occur during the aerobic phase of biological waste-water treatment processes.
Terephthalic acid is not persistent (not P).
Information on Registered Substances comes from registration dossiers which have been assigned a registration number. The assignment of a registration number does however not guarantee that the information in the dossier is correct or that the dossier is compliant with Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (the REACH Regulation). This information has not been reviewed or verified by the Agency or any other authority. The content is subject to change without prior notice.
Reproduction or further distribution of this information may be subject to copyright protection. Use of the information without obtaining the permission from the owner(s) of the respective information might violate the rights of the owner.
