1,2-dimethoxyethane

Biodegradation in water: screening tests

Administrative data

Endpoint:

biodegradation in water: inherent biodegradability

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

2010-05-05 to 2010-06-22

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

guideline study

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

study report

Title:

Unnamed

Year:

2010

Report date:

2010

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 302 B (Inherent biodegradability: Zahn-Wellens/EMPA Test)

Deviations:

no

GLP compliance:

yes

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

1,2-dimethoxyethane

EC Number:

203-794-9

EC Name:

1,2-dimethoxyethane

Cas Number:

110-71-4

Molecular formula:

C4H10O2

IUPAC Name:

1,2-dimethoxyethane

Details on test material:

- Name of test material (as cited in study report): Monoethylenglykoldimethylether
- Molecular formula: C4H10O2
- Molecular weight: 90.12 g/mol
- Physical state: Liquid, colourless
- Analytical purity: 99.9 % (1,2-Dimethoxyethane)
- Stability under test conditions: Not applicable
- Storage condition of test material: Room temperature, protected from moisture and light.

Study design

Oxygen conditions:

aerobic

Inoculum or test system:

activated sludge, non-adapted

Details on inoculum:

- Source of inoculum/activated sludge (e.g. location, sampling depth, contamination history, procedure): Activated sludge from the municipal sewage treatment plant, 31137 Hildesheim, Germany, comprising mostly municipal sewage and hardly industrial chemical waste
- Preparation of inoculum for exposure: The activated sludge was washed twice with autoclaved tap water. The dry sludge concentration was determined and an appropriate volume of inoculum was chosen to get a dry sludge concentration of 0.2 - 1.0 g/L in the test vessels and a ratio of DOC / inoculum in the range of 1:2.5 - 1:4.
- Dry sludge concentration of inoculum: 1.73 g/L
- Water filtered: no

Duration of test (contact time):

28 d

Initial test substance concentration

Initial conc.:

95 mg/L

Based on:

test mat.

Parameter followed for biodegradation estimation

Parameter followed for biodegradation estimation:

DOC removal

Details on study design:

TEST CONDITIONS
- Composition of medium: Mineral salts medium acc. to OECD 302 B
- Additional substrate: No
- Test temperature: 20-24 °C
- pH: please refer to the respective table
- pH adjusted: no
- Continuous darkness: yes


TEST SYSTEM
- Culturing apparatus: Closed 5000 mL brown glass flasks with a cartridge at the air outlet
- Number of culture flasks/concentration: 2
- Method used to create aerobic conditions: Permanent aeration
- Measuring equipment: The inherent biodegradation was monitored by determination of DOC according to Guideline DIN EN 1484. Samples were taken at the beginning of the test (0h, 3h) and after 3, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 36 days. The primary biodegradation was determined by SPME-GCMS. Samples were taken at the beginning of the test and after 7, 16, 21 and 28 days.



SAMPLING
- Sampling frequency: Samples were taken at the beginning of the test (0h, 3h) and after 3, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 36 days.


CONTROL AND BLANK SYSTEM
- Inoculum blank: Test item in test concentration without inoculum, poisoned with
10 mL/L of 10 g/L HgCl2 solution.
- Abiotic sterile control: No
- Toxicity control: Test item and reference item in test concentrations



STATISTICAL METHODS:
The inherent biodegradation was monitored by determination DOC at eight sampling points.
The ratio of eliminated DOC, corrected for the control at each time interval to the initial DOC (0h) value is expressed as the percentage biodegradation at the sampling time.

Reference substance

Reference substance:

diethylene glycol

Results and discussion

Preliminary study:

No preliminary study

Test performance:

The test concentration of the test item was calculated based on the DOC of 0.53 mgC/mg test item.

Appropriate volumes of nutrient media and inoculum were filled into the incubation vessels for the test item and test item GC replicates and were made up to 2 L with aqua demin. The test item and the test item stock solution, respectively were injected directly into the solution (below the surface) of each replicate.

For the sterile control appropriate volumes of nutrient media and HgCl2 solution were filled into the incubation vessel and were made up to 2 L with aqua demin. 219 µL of the test item stock solution was injected directly into the solution (below the surface).

For the sterile control GC-MS replicates appropriate volumes of nutri-ent media, inoculum and HgCl2 solution were filled into the incubation vessels and were made up to 2 L with aqua demin. Appropriate vol-umes of the test item stock solution were injected directly into the solution (below the surface) of each replicate.

For the functional control replicates a stock solution of the reference item was prepared. Appropriate volumes of the stock solution, nutri-ent media and inoculum were filled into the incubation vessels and were made up to 2 L with aqua demin.

For the inoculum control replicates appropriate volumes of nutrient media and inoculum were filled into the incubation vessel and made up to 2 L with aqua demin.

The incubation vessels were stirred continuously on a magnetic stirrer.

Adjusting of pH values to 6.5 to 8 was not necessary.

The biodegradation was monitored by determination of DOC and test item concentration at regular time intervals.

% Degradation

Parameter:

% degradation (DOC removal)

Value:

16

Sampling time:

48 d

Details on results:

The test item concentration was determined by SPME GC/MS at six sampling times over a period of 48 days. The raw data and the calculation of the degradation and physico-chemical elimination are given in Table 4 and Table 5. The test item was tested at a concentration of 600 µg/L. The physico-chemical elimination (volatilisation) of the test item was monitored in sterile controls (with inoculum and poisoned with HgCl2) at 300 µg/L and 600 µg/L.

Physic-chemical elimination (volatilisation) was in the range 29 - 34% on day 7. Until test end the mean volatilisation reached a maximum of 37 %.

The primary degradation started after a long lasting adaptation phase of 39 days. The course of the biodegradation was slow and on day 48 a biodegradation of only 14 % was reached.

The test item is classified as not primary biodegradable after 48 days.
The physico-chemical elimination (volatilisation) of the test item was monitored in the sterile control with the test item concentration of 95 mg/L but without inoculum and poisoned with HgCl2. No phys-ico-chemical elimination (volatilisation) occurred in the sterile control until day 48.

The inherent degradation started after a long lasting adaption phase of 26 days. The course of the biodegradation was slow and the biodegradation did not reach the 70 % pass level. After 48 days a biodegradation of 16 % was reached.

The test item is classified as not inherently biodegradable after 48 days.

BOD5 / COD results

Results with reference substance:

The adaptation phase of the functional control changes after 1 day into the degradation phase (degradation  10 %). The course of the degradation phase is rapid and reaches a degradation rate > 70 % after 5 days. After 14 days a degradation rate of 97 % was reached. The validity criterion degradation  70 % after 14 d is fulfilled.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Validity criteria fulfilled:

yes

Interpretation of results:

other: not inherently and not primary biodegradable

Conclusions:

The test item is classified as not inherently and not primary biodegradable after 48 days.

Executive summary:

The primary and inherent biodegradability were determined in the Zahn-Wellens-Test / EMPA Test with a non adapted activated sludge for the test item Monoethylenglykoldimethylether (batch number DEG4071070) over a period up to 48 days. The study was conducted from 2010-05-05 to 2010-06-22 according to OECD 302 B at Dr.U.Noack-Laboratorien.

For the determination of the primary biodegradation the test item was tested at a concentration of 600 µg/L in duplicates. The primary biodegradation was determined by SPME GC/MS analysis of the test item. For the determination of the inherent biodegradation the test item was tested at a concentration of 95 mg/L in duplicates, corresponding to a DOC of 50.4 mg C/L in the test vessel. The inherent biodegradation of the test item was followed by determination of DOC. The ratio of eliminated DOC, corrected for the control at each time interval to the initial DOC value is expressed as the percentage biodegradation at each sampling date.

In order to check the activity of the test system diethylene glycol in a concentration of 120 mg/L was used as functional control. After 14 days a degradation rate of 97 % was reached.

The physico-chemical elimination (volatilisation) of the test item was monitored in separate sterile controls. At the test item concentration of 95 mg/L a sterile control without inoculum and poisoned with HgCl₂ was used. For determination of the primary biodegradation sterile controls (with inoculum and poisoned with HgCl₂) with a test item concentration of 300 µg/L and 600 µg/L were tested. No physico-chemical elimination (volatilistion) occurred in the sterile controls at 95 mg/L until test end. At the concentration 300 µg/L and 600 µg/L the physico-chemical elimination (volatilisation) was in the range 29 - 34% on day 7. Until test end the mean volatilisation reached a maximum of 37 %.

The primary and inherent biodegradability of the test item in comparison to the degradable functional control and the elimination in the sterile controls is given in Table 1 and graphically shown in Figure 1.

For the calculation of the primary biodegradation, the concentration of the test item replicates was corrected for the mean elimination of the sterile control values. The primary degradation started after a long lasting adaptation phase of 39 days. The course of the biodegradation was slow and on day 48 a biodegradation of only 14 % was reached.

The inherent degradation started after a long lasting adaption phase of 26 days. The course of the biodegradation was slow and the biodegradation did not reach the 70 % pass level. After 48 days a biodegradation of 16 % was reached.

Primary and inherent Biodegradability of the Test Item Monoethylenglykoldimethylether in Comparison to the Functional Control and the Sterile Control

Primary and inherent Biodegradation / Elimination [%]
Replicate	7	14	21	26	28	35	48
test item 95 mg/L	5	1	3	10	11	12	16
functional control 120 mg/L	99	97	100	100	100	98	100
Sterile control^1) 95 mg/L test item	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Test item^2) 600 µg/L	-7	-1	2	-	5	-	14
Sterile control^1) 300 µg/L test item	34	28	22	-	38	-	37
Sterile control^1) 600 µg/L test item	29	31	46	-	35	-	36