2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitrile

Additional information on environmental fate and behaviour

Administrative data

Endpoint:

additional information on environmental fate and behaviour

Type of information:

other: Field study during remediation of a spill

Adequacy of study:

key study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: scientifically acceptable study documented in sufficient detail

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Remediation of subsurface water and soil polluted

Author:

Giudici D

Year:

1996

Bibliographic source:

Tecnologie Chimiche, 16, 67-71.

Materials and methods

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitrile

EC Number:

200-909-4

EC Name:

2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitrile

Cas Number:

75-86-5

Molecular formula:

C4H7NO

IUPAC Name:

2-hydroxy-2-methylpropanenitrile

Details on test material:

- Name of test material (as cited in study report): acetone cyanohydrin

Results and discussion

Any other information on results incl. tables

A spill of about 298 ton of acetone cyanohydrin at Elf-Atochem, Rho, Italy, spread in the ground and into the top subsurface water layers. Since acetone cyanohydrin is totally soluble in water, pollution was confined to the water layer and the clay layer above.  The water was extracted through wells excavated along the length of the valley downstream from the spill.  The soil was subjected to washing with water; removal of the pollutant was complete.  The contaminated water streams were treated with NaOH to decompose the acetone cyanohydrin into acetone and Na cyanide and subsequently oxidized with H2O2 to eliminate cyanides. In-situ elimination of pollutant that might have escaped the clay and water layers and invaded soil and deeper water table, was carried out by treatment with H2O2. There was no damage to the local population or the environment, as the remediation was carried out in a timely manner by trained personnel.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

A spill of about 298 ton of acetone cyanohydrin at Elf-Atochem, Rho, Italy, spread in the ground and into the top subsurface water layers. The pollution was confined to the water layer and the clay layer above. The water was extracted through wells excavated along the length of the valley downstream from the spill. The soil was subjected to washing with water; removal of the pollutant was complete. The contaminated water streams were treated with NaOH to decompose the acetone cyanohydrin into acetone and Na cyanide and subsequently oxidized with H2O2 to eliminate cyanides. There was no damage to the local population or the environment.

Executive summary:

A spill of about 298 ton of acetone cyanohydrin at Elf-Atochem, Rho, Italy, spread in the ground and into the top subsurface water layers. Since acetone cyanohydrin is totally soluble in water, pollution was confined to the water layer and the clay layer above.  The water was extracted through wells excavated along the length of the valley downstream from the spill.  The soil was subjected to washing with water; removal of the pollutant was complete.  The contaminated water streams were treated with NaOH to decompose the acetone cyanohydrin into acetone and Na cyanide and subsequently oxidized with H2O2 to eliminate cyanides. In-situ elimination of pollutant that might have escaped the clay and water layers and invaded soil and deeper water table, was carried out by treatment with H2O2. There was no damage to the local population or the environment, as the remediation was carried out in a timely manner by trained personnel.