Alkenes, C6-11 (branched), hydroformylation products, distn. residues, heavy cracked fraction

Biodegradation in water: screening tests

Administrative data

Endpoint:

biodegradation in water: ready biodegradability

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Study included enhancements of OECD 301F, since not strictly to guideline, reliability = 2.

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

study report

Title:

Unnamed

Year:

2010

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 301 F (Ready Biodegradability: Manometric Respirometry Test)

Version / remarks:

1992

Deviations:

yes

Remarks:

test with non-adapted and pre-exposed inoculum

GLP compliance:

yes

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Alkenes, C6-11 (branched), hydroformylation products, distn. residues, heavy cracked fraction

EC Number:

701-314-7

Molecular formula:

CnH2n+2O2. n=24-33

IUPAC Name:

Alkenes, C6-11 (branched), hydroformylation products, distn. residues, heavy cracked fraction

Study design

Oxygen conditions:

aerobic

Inoculum or test system:

activated sludge, domestic, adapted

Details on inoculum:

PART 1 was to determine toxicity of the test material or potential toxic transformation products to the activated sludge microorganisms with a test medium prepared as outlined in OEDC guideline with non-acclimated sludge. A detailed description can be found in the Details on study design field.

PART 2 was to determine biodegradability with acclimated inoculum with the test material from Part 1 and supernatant from a Semi-Continuous Activated Sludge system (SCAS). The test medium was then prepared as outlined in the OECD 301F guideline.

PART 3 was prepared from the acclimated inoculum from Part 1 and from the acclimated inoculum from the SCAS units from Part 2.

PART 4 was prepared using the combined acclimated inoculum from Part 1 and from Part 2 with the addition of supernatant obtained from a petrochemical –contaminated soil sample

Duration of test (contact time):

60 d

Initial test substance concentration

Initial conc.:

ca. 50 mg/L

Based on:

test mat.

Parameter followed for biodegradation estimation

Parameter followed for biodegradation estimation:

O2 consumption

Details on study design:

PART 1: Test system without acclimated inoculum

Test Medium Preparation
Fresh activated sludge was used as the inoculum. The activated sludge was obtained from Somerset-Raritan Valley Sewage Authority in Bridgewater, on 3Sep2009, Day -1 of the test. This treatment facility was selected because it deals predominantly with domestic sewage as specified in the guideline. There were no known contaminants in the fresh activated sludge believed to be present at levels high enough to have interfered with this study.

Duplicate 10 ml aliquots of the activated sludge were filtered through pre-weighed Whatman 934-AH filters in a Buchner funnel and vacuum flask set up. The filters were placed in an aluminum pan and dried in an oven for one hour at 102°C. After cooling, the filters in a desiccator, the filters were re-weighed and the mean total suspended solids concentration was determined to be 4.74g/L. The sludge was homogenized in a blender for two minutes at low speed. The homogenated sample was allowed to settle for fifty minutes, after which the supernatant was decanted (avoiding carry-over of sludge solids). An aliquot of the supernatant was used to determine microbial activity. The microbial activity was determined using the Easicult-TTC dip slides Lot No. 1291000. This was accomplished by removing the agar stick from the culturing tube, and dipping the agar into the supernatant aliquot. Excess supernatant was blotted off with a clean paper towel, and the agar stick was then placed back into the culture tube. The whole unit was placed into a dark incubator for 48 hours at 20 ± 2°. Based on comparison of the density of colonies growing on the agar with the model density chart provided by the supplier, the microbial activity was determined to be 10E5 CFU/mL. The remaining decanted sludge supernatant was used for final preparation of the test medium on Day -1.
Twenty liters of glass distilled water were collected in a carboy. A quantity of 460 mL of glass distilled water was removed from the carboy before the addition of the mineral salt solutions. The following quantities of mineral salt solutions and inoculum were added to the carboy:
mL per liter of glass distilled water Solution Concentration
1 Magnesium Sulfate 2.75% (VWR, Lot# 7304)
1 Calcium Chloride 2.75% (VWR, Lot# 7319)
10 Phosphate Buffer pH 7.2 (VWR, Lot# 8091)
1 Ferric Chloride 0.025% (VWR, Lot# 7291)

The test medium was prepared one day before the test began. The test medium was aerated with carbon dioxide free air for approximately 24 hours before use. There were no known contaminants in the solutions believed to be present at levels that may have interfered with the study. All solutions were refrigerated when not in use.

The test system was considered as the following in a flask (detail in table below):
Blank: 1 L test medium
Sodium Benzoate: 5 mL sodium benzoate stock solution, 1 L test medium
Test substance: 3 reps, 44.7, 53.5, 52.8 mg added to 1L test medium.
Toxicity control: 3 reps, 44.7, 53.5, 52.8 mg test substance, 5 mL sodium benzoate stock solution added to 1L test medium.

All test containers used in this study were uniquely identified. All glassware was washed with Chem-Solv® and then rinsed with glass distilled water to remove any residual organic carbon. All glassware was inspected to ensure cleanliness. The manometric cells were rinsed with two portions of acetone, filled with soapy water and allowed to stand for a few hours. The cells were then rinsed with glass distilled water followed by acetone then finally air dried.
The test substance, positive control substance, and toxicity control were tested at concentrations of 50.3 mg/L, 54.5 mg/L, and 107.95 mg/L, respectively. Sodium benzoate was administered to the respective test systems by adding 5.0 mL aliquot of 10000mg/L aqueous stock solution. The test substance was injected directly into the test flasks containing one liter of test medium with a syringe containing the test substance. The weight difference of the syringe was recorded as the weight of test substance added to the flask. Each flask was sealed immediately after addition of the test substance to avoid loss due to volatilization.
After assembly of the test systems, stirring was initiated, the equipment was checked to ensure no leaks were present, and the oxygen uptake measurements were initiated. No further attention was required other than printing the respirometer data and making daily checks during normal working hours to see that the correct temperature (22 ± 2°C) and adequate stirring were maintained.

PART 2: Test system with inoculum from SCAS units
Activated sludge was obtained from Raritan Valley Sewage Authority, in Bridgewater , NJ. The sludge was homogenized in a blender at low speed for approximately 2 minutes, An aliquot was removed and the microbial activity was determined using Easicult TTC slide Lot 4223701. The activated sludge was transferred to a 12 liter carboy, aerated and synthetic sewage feed was added to the stock daily.
On 19Sep2009, approximately 700 ml of activated sludge was removed and transferred to each of 1 liter graduated cylinders, aerated and feed 50mls of synthetic sewage. A total of three systems were set up. On 21 September 2009, an aliquot was removed and the microbial activity was determined using Easicult TTC slide. On 22Sep2009, approximately 400ml of activated sludge was removed for each unit and replaced with activated sludge from the 12 liter reservoir. Test material was added to each unit, 50mls of synthetic sewage feed and aerated. The procedure of removing 400mls, adding test material, synthetic sewage and aerating continued for 21 days.
The addition of test materials, collection of activated sludge, addition and preparation of synthetic sewage feed and Easicult TTC results can be found in the raw data.
Twelve liters of glass distilled water were collected in a carboy. A quantity of 276 mL of glass distilled water was removed from the carboy before the addition of the mineral salt solutions. The following quantities of mineral salt solutions and inoculum from the SCAS units were added to the carboy:
mL per liter of glass distilled water Solution Concentration
1 Magnesium Sulfate 2.75% (VWR, Lot# 8302)
1 Calcium Chloride 7.75% (VWR, Lot# 8204)
10 Phosphate Buffer pH 7.2(VWR, Lot# 8091)
1 Ferric Chloride 0.025% (VWR, Lot# 8338)
The test medium was prepared one day before the test began. The test medium was aerated with carbon dioxide free air for approximately 24 hours before use
The test system was considered as the following in a flask (detail in table below):
Blank: 1 L test medium
Sodium Benzoate: 5 mL sodium benzoate stock solution, 1 L test medium
Test substance: 3 reps, 54.1, 54.3, 47.0 mg added to 1L test medium.
The test substance, and positive control substance, were tested at concentrations of 51.8mg/L, 54.57 mg/L, , respectively. Sodium benzoate was administered to the respective test systems by adding 5.0 mL aliquot of 10000 mg/L aqueous stock solution. The test substance was injected directly into the test flasks containing one liter of test medium with a syringe containing the test substance. The weight difference of the syringe was recorded as the weight of test substance added to the flask. Each flask was sealed immediately after addition of the test substance to avoid loss due to volatilization.
After assembly of the test systems, stirring was initiated, the equipment was checked to ensure no leaks were present, and the oxygen uptake measurements were initiated. No further attention was required other than printing the respirometer data and making daily checks during normal working hours to see that the correct temperature (22 ± 1°C) and adequate stirring were maintained.

PART 3 : Test system with acclimated inoculums from Part 1 and Part 2
Test Medium Preparation
All systems from Part 1 and Part 2 were terminated on 17Nov2009. Flasks containing test substance and the blanks were filtered through 0.45u filter using a Millipore set-up. The biomass was scraped from the filters into 20ml of test medium.
Two liters of glass distilled water were collected in a carboy. The following quantities of mineral salt solutions and 20 ml of accumulated biomass were added to the carboy:
mL per liter of glass distilled water Solution Concentration
1 Magnesium Sulfate 2.25% (VWR, Lot# 8302)
1 Calcium Chloride 2.75% (VWR, Lot# 8204)
10 Phosphate Buffer pH 7.2 (VWR, Lot# 8091)
1 Ferric Chloride 0.025% (VWR, Lot# 8338)
The test medium was prepared one day before the test began. The test medium was aerated with carbon dioxide free air for approximately 24 hours before use

Preparation of the Test Systems
Blank: 1 L test medium
Sodium Benzoate: 5 mL sodium benzoate stock solution, 1 L test medium
Test substance: 3 reps, 47.4, 46.0, 46.7 mg added to 1L test medium.
The test substance, and positive control substance, were tested at concentrations of 46.53mg/L, 50 mg/L, respectively. Sodium benzoate was administered to the respective test systems by adding 5.0 mL aliquot of 10000 mg/L aqueous stock solution. The test substance was injected directly into the test flasks containing one liter of test medium with a syringe containing the test substance. The weight difference of the syringe was recorded as the weight of test substance added to the flask. Each flask was sealed immediately after addition of the test substance to avoid loss due to volatilization.
After assembly of the test systems, stirring was initiated, the equipment was checked to ensure no leaks were present, and the oxygen uptake measurements were initiated. No further attention was required other than printing the respirometer data and making daily checks during normal working hours to see that the correct temperature (22 ± 1°C) and adequate stirring were maintained.

PART 4
Test system with acclimated inoculums from Part 1, and Part 2 and soil inoculum
Soil was obtained from the manufacturing site with possible contact with hydrocarbons and the registered substance. 500 grams of soil was placed in a 4 liter carboy with the addition of 27 liters of glass distilled water and the following mineral salts
mL per liter of glass distilled water Solution Concentration
1 Magnesium Sulfate 2.25% (VWR, Lot# 8302)
1 Calcium Chloride 2.75% (VWR, Lot# 8204)
10 Phosphate Buffer pH 7.2 (VWR, Lot# 8091)
1 Ferric Chloride 0.025% (VWR, Lot# 8338)
The carboy was placed on a stirrer and aerated on 10Nov2009. On 13Nov2009, an oil ring had formed on the top, cloudy supernatant in the middle and the soil remained on the bottom. The middle cloudy supernatant was decanted into a 7 liter flask and aerated until needed.

Preparation of the Test Systems
The test system was considered as the following in a flask (detail in table below):
Test substance, or positive control substance
**Test Medium which was 100ml of the acclimated inoculum from Part 1 and Part 2, 100ml of the soil supernatant, 800 ml of test medium
Sodium Benzoate: 5 mL sodium benzoate stock solution, 1 L test medium
Test substance: 3 reps, 51.1, 49.8, 52.1 mg added to 1L test medium.
Sodium benzoate was administered to the respective test systems by adding 5.0 mL aliquot of 10000 mg/L aqueous stock solution. The test substance was injected directly into the test flasks containing one liter of test medium with a syringe containing the test substance. The weight difference of the syringe was recorded as the weight of test substance added to the flask. Each flask was sealed immediately after addition of the test substance to avoid potential loss due to volatilization.
After assembly of the test systems, stirring was initiated, the equipment was checked to ensure no leaks were present, and the oxygen uptake measurements were initiated. No further attention was required other than printing the respirometer data and making daily checks during normal working hours to see that the correct temperature (22 ± 1°C) and adequate stirring were maintained.

Reference substance

Reference substance:

benzoic acid, sodium salt

Results and discussion

Preliminary study:

Results are presented for Part 1, the standard OECD 301F using non-adapted inoculum, and for Part 4 - which consisted of acclimated inocula from Part 1 and Part 2, as well as contaminated soil inoculum.

Test performance:

The toxicity control was evaluated at mean concentration of 107.95 mg/L in Part 1 of the study only. The guideline states that a test substance will be considered inhibitory if the toxicity test systems, containing both the test and positive control substance, reach less than 75% biodegradation by Day 14. The toxicity control systems exceeded 75% by Day 3 therefore the test substance cannot be considered inhibitory at the test concentration.

% Degradation

% Degradation 1

Parameter:

% degradation (O2 consumption)

Value:

41.8

St. dev.:

3.23

Sampling time:

28 d

Remarks on result:

other: non-adapted inoculum

% Degradation 2

Parameter:

% degradation (O2 consumption)

Value:

51.4

St. dev.:

13.2

Sampling time:

60 d

Remarks on result:

other: non-adapted inoculum

% Degradation 3

Parameter:

% degradation (O2 consumption)

Value:

63

St. dev.:

2.41

Sampling time:

28 d

Remarks on result:

other: Acclimated inocula

% Degradation 4

Parameter:

% degradation (O2 consumption)

Value:

81.53

St. dev.:

1.86

Sampling time:

60 d

Remarks on result:

other: acclimated inocula

BOD5 / COD results

Results with reference substance:

Part 1 (non-adapted inoculum): Sodium benzoate biodegraded 67.42% after 4 days (St. dev. = 0.49).

Part 4 (acclimated inoculum): Sodium benzoate biodegraded 61.49% after 4 days (St. dev. = 3.34).

Any other information on results incl. tables

 

Table 1. % biodegradation Part 1: Non-acclimated inoculum
	Registered Substance					Positive Control
Day	Rep 1	Rep 2	Rep 3	Mean	SD	Rep 1	Rep 2	Rep 3	Mean	SD
7	9.8	9.4	10.2	9.8	0.4	80.1	77.5	78.4	78.7	1.3
8	11.4	11.3	12.4	11.7	0.6	82.9	79.6	80.5	81.0	1.7
18	30.0	34.5	33.7	32.8	2.4	87.8	90.2	86.5	88.2	1.9
28	38.1	43.2	44.1	41.8	3.2	85.8	94.4	84.5	88.2	5.4
35	39.6	44.3	49.0	44.3	4.7	80.9	93.9	79.3	84.7	8.0
42	41.5	43.8	53.7	46.4	6.5	77.3	95.2	75.4	82.6	10.9
49	44.9	43.4	59.1	49.1	8.7	76.4	96.6	73.8	82.3	12.5
56	44.3	40.1	63.3	49.3	12.4	71.2	97.2	68.1	78.8	16.0
60	49.7	38.9	65.3	51.3	13.3	69.8	98.3	66.0	78.0	17.6

 

Table 2. % Biodegradation - Part 4: Acclimated inoculum
	Registered Substance				Positive Control
Day	Rep 1	Rep 2	Mean*	SD	Rep 1	Rep 2	Rep 3	Mean	SD
4	9.0	9.9	9.4	0.7	60.9	65.1	58.5	61.5	3.3
5	11.1	12.1	11.6	0.7	66.7	67.5	61.2	65.1	3.5
15	34.9	32.9	33.9	1.4	82.6	84.7	86.4	84.6	1.9
28	64.7	61.3	63.0	2.4	85.7	85.6	84.4	85.2	0.7
35	68.8	65.2	67.0	2.6	81.9	93.8	80.4	85.4	7.3
42	73.9	71.0	72.4	2.0	79.6	91.6	78.2	83.1	7.3
49	77.1	74.2	75.7	2.1	77.2	89.1	75.8	80.7	7.3
56	81.0	78.3	79.7	1.9	75.3	96.1	74.1	81.8	12.4
60	82.8	80.2	81.5	1.9	74.4	98.7	77.8	83.6	13.2
*Rep 3 terminated day 7 due to Cu2SO4 in the NaOH trap.

 

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Validity criteria fulfilled:

yes

Interpretation of results:

inherently biodegradable

Conclusions:

In a standard OECD 301F readily biodegradable screening test using non-adapted inoculum (Part 1), the substance achieved 51% biodegradation when the test duration was extended to 60 d (since the plateau had not been reached at 28 d). The relatively high concentration of 50 mg/L may have limited the bioavailability of substance in the test system. Further testing with pre-exposed/acclimated inoculum resulted in 63% biodegradation in 28d (82% at 60d). As such, the substance can be considered inherently biodegradable (with pre-adaptation), and is not expected to persist in the environment under aerobic conditions.