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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:
From February 22, 2016 to March 22, 2016
Reliability:
1 (reliable without restriction)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
guideline study
Qualifier:
according to guideline
Guideline:
OECD Guideline 301 B (Ready Biodegradability: CO2 Evolution Test)
Qualifier:
according to guideline
Guideline:
EU Method C.4-C (Determination of the "Ready" Biodegradability - Carbon Dioxide Evolution Test)
GLP compliance:
yes (incl. QA statement)
Specific details on test material used for the study:
Batch no.: JBGJ0045R
Purity: 100% (UVCB)
Appearance: clear yellowish liquid
Oxygen conditions:
aerobic
Inoculum or test system:
activated sludge, domestic (adaptation not specified)
Details on inoculum:
- Specification: cctivated sludge from a biologic sewage treatment plant was used. The chosen plant is treating mostly domestic sewage.
- Source and pre-treatment: Source: the sludge was taken from the activation basin of the ESN (Stadtentsorgung Neustadt) sewage treatment plant, Im Altenschemel, NW-Lachen-Speyerdorf. Date of collection: 19. Feb. 2016, batch no: 20160219.
- Pre-treatment: the sludge was filtrated, washed with tap water (2x), then washed with and re-suspended in test medium. It was then aerated until use. The dry matter was determined as 4060 mg suspended solids/L.
Duration of test (contact time):
28 d
Initial conc.:
31.3 mg/L
Based on:
other: nominally 20 mg organic carbon/L
Parameter followed for biodegradation estimation:
CO2 evolution
Details on study design:
- The medium was prepared from the stock solutions. The stock solution of the positive control was p repared and its TOC was measured. The inoculum was taken from its source, washed, aerated and the d ry matter was determined. The test vessels were filled with medium and inoculum. Then, all flasks were aerated for 96 hours with purified, CO2-free, moistened air to purge the system of CO2. On the day of the start of the test, CO2-free medium and inoculum was filled into the test flask.
- Experimental parameters:
Flask volume: 1500 mL
Apparatus blanks: 2, containing mineral medium only
Blank controls: 2, containing mineral medium and inoculum
Positive control flasks: 2, containing positive control, mineral medium and inoculum
Test flasks: 2, containing test substance, mineral medium and inoculum
Abiotic: control 1, containing test substance, mineral medium and HgCl2
Toxicity control: 1, containing test substance, positive control, mineral medium and inoculum Inoculum concentration: 25.0 mg/L
Temperature: 19.1 – 21.6°C
Duration: 28 days
The test was performed with a nominal start concentration of 20 mg organic carbon/L.
- The emitted CO2 was trapped in 0.25 M NaOH. Two scrubbers containing 100 mL each were connected in series to the test vessels. The initial IC value of the 0.25 M NaOH was separately determined in each flask.
- Sampling: from each front scrubber flask, 10 samples were taken in order to determine the emitted CO2 (on day 0, 2, 4, 7, 9, 11, 14, 18, 23 and 29). The sample volume was 1 mL. The resulting change in th e volume of the front flask was considered in the calculation of emitted CO2. On day 28, 5 mL HCl 2 M was added to each test flask in order to drive off dissolved CO2. On day 29, samples from both scrubber flasks were taken.
- CO2 determination: analyses of the emitted CO2 were made by IC measurement using the carbon analyser TOC.
Reference substance:
aniline
Remarks:
positive control
Key result
Parameter:
% degradation (CO2 evolution)
Remarks:
made by IC measurement
Value:
36
Sampling time:
28 d
Remarks on result:
other: not readily biodegradable (but no plateau was reached by the end of the test indicating possible further degradation)
Remarks:
inherently biodegradable
Details on results:
The following data were determined for the test substance:
- 10-day-window (day 13 – 23): 27%
- Degradation at the end of the test: 36%
(pass level following guideline: 60% at the end of 10-day-window for pure substances respective 60% at the end of the test for mixtures).
Because the test substance is a mixture the 10-day-window has not to be taken into account. As degradation missed 60% in the course of the test, the test substance was considered as not readily biodegradable within 28 days. However, at the end of the test no plateau of degradation was reached yet, indicating further biodegradation is possible.
Results with reference substance:
The degradation of the positive control was 69% after 11 days.
Validity criteria fulfilled:
yes
Interpretation of results:
not readily biodegradable
Conclusions:
Under the study conditions,the substance was considered as 'not readily biodegradable' in a CO2 evolution test. Nevertheless, considering that no plateau of degradation was reached at the end of 28 days, further degradation is still possible.
Executive summary:

A study was conducted to determine the biodegradation in water of the test substance, according to OECD guideline 301 B and EU Method C.4-C (CO2 evolution test), in compliance with GLP. The substance was tested in duplicate at the concentration of 20 mg organic carbon/L (corresponding to 31.3 mg test substance/L) for a duration of 28 d. Test and reference substances (positive control: aniline and toxicity control; test substance plus aniline) were added to the bottles containing the microbial organisms (domestic sludge) and mineral components followed by sampling on Day 0, 3, 6, 8, 10, 14, 17, 23 and 29 to measure the CO2 evolution. The amount of CO2 produced was determined by inorganic carbon (IC) measurement using the carbon analyser TOC. Each sample was measured in duplicate or triplicate depending upon the variation.The test substance revealed 36% biodegradation (based on IC) in the duplicate test bottles. No toxicity of the test substance was observed in the toxicity control at a concentration of 39.7 mg/L; i.e., there was 33% degradation after 14 d. Abiotic degradation was not observed. Degradation of the positive control was 69% after 11 d. All validity criteria were met. Under the study conditions, the substance was considered as 'not readily biodegradable' in a CO2 evolution test. Nevertheless, considering that no plateau of degradation was reached at the end of 28 days, further degradation is still possible (Muckle, 2016). Therefore, the test substance has been considered to be inherently biodegradable.

Description of key information

The test substance has been considered to be inherently biodegradable.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Biodegradation in water:
inherently biodegradable

Additional information

A study was conducted to determine the biodegradation in water of the test substance, according to OECD Guideline 301 B and EU Method C.4-C (CO2 evolution test), in compliance with GLP. The substance was tested in duplicate at the concentration of 20 mg organic carbon/L (corresponding to 31.3 mg test substance/L) for a duration of 28 d. Test and reference substances (positive control: aniline and toxicity control; test substance plus aniline) were added to the bottles containing the microbial organisms (domestic sludge) and mineral components followed by sampling on Day 0, 3, 6, 8, 10, 14, 17, 23 and 29 to measure the CO2 evolution. The amount of CO2 produced was determined by inorganic carbon (IC) measurement using the carbon analyser TOC. Each sample was measured in duplicate or triplicate depending upon the variation.The test substance revealed 36% biodegradation (based on IC) in the duplicate test bottles. No toxicity of the test substance was observed in the toxicity control at a concentration of 39.7 mg/L; i.e., there was 33% degradation after 14 d. Abiotic degradation was not observed. Degradation of the positive control was 69% after 11 d. All validity criteria were met. Under the study conditions, the substance was considered as 'not readily biodegradable' in a CO2 evolution test. Nevertheless, considering that no plateau of degradation was reached at the end of 28 days, further degradation is still possible (Muckle, 2016). Therefore, the test substance has been considered to be inherently biodegradable.