Slags, copper refining

Water solubility

Administrative data

Endpoint:

water solubility

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: No GLP study but other quality assurance

Cross-reference

Reason / purpose for cross-reference:

reference to other study

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

study report

Title:

Unnamed

Year:

2010

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 105 (Water Solubility)

GLP compliance:

no

Type of method:

flask method

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Slags, copper refining

EC Number:

266-970-4

EC Name:

Slags, copper refining

Cas Number:

67711-94-8

Molecular formula:

The substance is a UVCB for which it is not possible to provide a molecular formula and a molecular weight.

IUPAC Name:

slag, copper refining

Details on test material:

Sample collection made according to ECI/REACH Copper Consortium Standards Protocols (see IUCLID section 1.4)
Sample Description Sample Code Lab code
B8 copper-rich slag from Secondary smelter MC_B8_531_xxx_0904 09TT03335
B8 Cu-rich slag, from slag concentrator, primary smelter (representative, homogenized) slag concentrate 09TT03987
B8 Cu-rich slag from FSF, primary smelter (representative, homogenized) slag from FSF, primary smelter 09TT05248
B8 Cu-rich slag from anode furnace, primary smelter (representative, homogenized) slag from anode furnace 09TT05247

Results and discussion

Details on results:

23 mg/l S was dissolved from the sample 09TT03987. 14 mg/l Fe and 17 mg/l Si were dissolved from the sample 09TT05248. Otherwise all samples were low-soluble in the water solubility tests

Any other information on results incl. tables

The preliminary test did not indicate any solubility for the studied samples. Approximately 5 g sample and 100 ml water were taken to each test. Specific weighed amounts are given in Appendices A-D of the study report.

The shaking time was 14-16 days. After that each sample was equilibrated for 24 h time. Table 5 presents measured pH range and average metal concentrations for the samples. Substances with solubility <10 mg/l are considered low-soluble and those with solubility <1 mg/l are considered poorly soluble /38,43/.

23 mg/l S was dissolved from the sample 09TT03987. 14 mg/l Fe and 17 mg/l Si were dissolved from the sample 09TT05248. Otherwise all samples were low-soluble. The standard method involves three tests, which is not enough for a statistical analysis.

Table 5: Average water solubility calculated from the 14-16 days shaking tests.

	Sample code	09TT03335	09TT03987	09TT05247	09TT05248
		Average or range	Average or range	Average or range	Average or range
pH		10.61-10.80	6.36-6.46	8.61-8.75	7.36-8.38
ICP Ag	mg/l	-	-	-	<0.2
ICP Al	mg/l	1.0	<0.2	<0.2	0.8
ICP As	mg/l	<0.2	<0.2	<0.2	<0.2
ICP B	mg/l	<0.3	-	-	-
ICP Ba	mg/l	-	<0.2	0.3	-
ICP Bi	mg/l	-	-	<0.2	-
ICP Ca	mg/l	-	7	-	1.1
ICP Cd	mg/l	<0.1	<0.1	-	<0.1
ICP Co	mg/l	<0.2	<0.2	<0.2	<0.2
ICP Cr	mg/l	<0.2	<0.2	<0.2	<0.2
ICP Cu	mg/l	<2	<4	<0.2	1.2
ICP Fe	mg/l	<0.2	<1	<0.2	14
ICP K	mg/l	-	7	<5	<5
ICP Mg	mg/l	<0.2	9	0.7	0.3
ICP Mn	mg/l	<0.2	<0.2	-	<0.1
ICP Mo	mg/l	<0.2	-	<0.2	-
ICP Na	mg/l	4	5	-	<2
ICP Ni	mg/l	<0.2	<0.2	<0.2	<0.2
ICP P	mg/l	-	-	<1	-
ICP Pb	mg/l	28	<0.2	<0.2	0.3
ICP S	mg/l	<5	23	0.5	0.7
ICP Sb	mg/l	<0.2	<0.2	<0.2	<0.2
ICP Se	mg/l	<0.2	-	<0.2	-
ICP Si	mg/l	<1	1	1.3	17
ICP Sn	mg/l	<0.2	<0.2	<0.2	<0.2
ICP Zn	mg/l	<0.2	<0.2	<0.2	0.7

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

Interpretation of results (migrated information): other: insoluble in preliminary test
Preliminary test did not indicate any solubility of the substance. Flask method test was performed on representative sample of the UVCB, a complex metal containing substance. Validity of the reported results confirmed by Harlan Lab (V. Gretton, 2010)

Executive summary:

Classic definition of solubility does not apply to the UVCB, who is a complex metal containing substance. The usually accepted meaning in that case is (according to ECHA Guidance on information requirements and chemical safety assessment Chapter R.7a) " the composition of the aqueous solution formed at equilibrium under a defined set of conditions". Temperature and the amount of substance added per unit volume of water (i.e. the loading) are the main factors to consider. It was not always possible to establish equilibrium of all components; therefore, time and type of agitation of the vessels have been described. Aqueous solubilities were reported in mg/l.

For this UVCB, preliminary result demonstrated that substance is poorly soluble in water. Major results from the additional flask test were: with a loading of 5g/100ml, and shaking over 14 -16 days, main constituents showed poor solubilities, with the exception of Ca, K, Mg, Na (poor), S, Si, Fe Pb (low) and Cu (low to poor). In particular, 23 mg/l S was dissolved from the sample 09TT03987. 14 mg/l Fe and 17 mg/l Si were dissolved from the sample 09TT05248.

Under these conditions, the report acknowledges that stated solubilities may be higher than reality for some samples (e.g. due to abrasion, difficult to remove tiny undissolved particules, etc).

The reported results from OECD 105 are therefore indicative for the behaviour of the UVCB in water. For the purpose of assessing environmental fate and behaviour of this difficult to test complex metal containing substance, Transformation/dissolution test would however be more appropriate (see iuclid 5.6 T/D available).