Reaction mass of (S)-2-[(R)-2-Oxo-4-propyl-1-pyrrolidinyl]butyramide and (S)-2-[(S)-2-Oxo-4-propyl-1-pyrrolidinyl]butyramide

Biodegradation in water: screening tests

Administrative data

Endpoint:

biodegradation in water: ready biodegradability

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

17 October 2007 - 15 November 2007

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

guideline study

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

study report

Title:

Unnamed

Year:

2008

Report date:

2008

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Test guideline 1

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 301 B (Ready Biodegradability: CO2 Evolution Test)

Version / remarks:

July 1992

Deviations:

no

Test guideline 2

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

EU Method C.4-C (Determination of the "Ready" Biodegradability - Carbon Dioxide Evolution Test)

Version / remarks:

December 1992

Deviations:

no

GLP compliance:

yes (incl. QA statement)

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

(2S)-2-(2-oxo-4R-propylpyrrolidin-1-yl)butanamide

Cas Number:

357336-20-0

IUPAC Name:

(2S)-2-(2-oxo-4R-propylpyrrolidin-1-yl)butanamide

Test material form:

solid: particulate/powder

Details on test material:

- Description: White to off-white powder
- Storage conditions: At room temperature protected from light

Study design

Oxygen conditions:

aerobic

Inoculum or test system:

activated sludge, domestic, non-adapted

Details on inoculum:

The source of test organisms was activated sludge freshly obtained from a municipal sewage treatment plant: 'Waterschap de Maaskant', 's-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands, receiving predominantly domestic sewage.

Treatment: The sludge was kept under continuous aeration until further treatment. The concentration of suspended solids was 3.9 g/L in the concentrated sludge (information obtained from the municipal sewage treatment plant). Before use, the sludge was allowed to settle (56 minutes) and the liquid was decanted for use as inoculum at the amount of 10 mL/L of mineral medium.

Duration of test (contact time):

28 d

Initial test substance concentration

Initial test substance concentration 1

Initial conc.:

12 mg/L

Based on:

TOC

Initial test substance concentration 2

Initial conc.:

19.5 mg/L

Based on:

test mat.

Parameter followed for biodegradation estimation

Parameter followed for biodegradation estimation:

CO2 evolution

Details on study design:

PREPARATION OF TEST SOLUTIONS
As the test substance was indicated to be light sensitive, amounts were weighed in a room especially equipped with yellow light and shipped to the testing chamber in darkened bottles. Preparation was as much as possible performed under yellow light and/or low light conditions. Since the test substance was easily soluble in water the test media were prepared using a stock solution of 1 g/L in Milli-RO water (tap water purified by reverse osmosis; Millipore Corp., USA). A weighed amount of 249.4 mg of the test substance was dissolved in Milli-RO water and made up to 250 mL. The stock was a clear and colourless solution. Aliquots of 39 mL of the stock solution were added to the test medium, containing the microbial organisms, of test substance bottles A and B and the toxicity control (final volume: 2 litres). The test solutions were continuously stirred during the test, to ensure optimal contact between the test substance and the test organisms.

TEST CONDITIONS
- Composition of medium: 1 litre mineral medium contains: 10 mL of solution (A), 1 mL of solutions (B) to (D) and Milli-RO water
Stock solutions of mineral components:
A) 8.50 g KH2PO4; 21.75 g K2HPO4; 67.20 g Na2HPO4.12H2O; 0.50 g NH4Cl; dissolved in Milli-Q water (Milli-RO water passed over activated carbon and ion-exchange cartridges; Millipore Corp., USA) and made up to 1 litre; pH 7.4 ± 0.2
B) 22.50 g MgSO4.7H2O dissolved in Milli-Q water and made up to 1 litre.
C) 36.40 g CaCl2.2H2O dissolved in Milli-Q water and made up to 1 litre.
D) 0.25 g FeCl3.6H2O dissolved in Milli-Q water and made up to 1 litre.

- Test temperature: between 21.5 and 22.0°C.
- pH at t=0 d: 7.5
- pH adjusted: no
- pH at t=28 d (test suspensions): 7.4
- pH at t=28 d (blank controls): 7.4
- pH at t=28 d (positive control): 7.7
- pH at t=28 d (toxicity control): 7.7
- Aeration of dilution water: Overnight prior to the start of the test. During the test the medium was aerated and stirred continously.
- Continuous darkness: yes

TEST SYSTEM
- Culturing apparatus: 2 litre all-glass brown coloured bottles
- Number of culture flasks/concentration:
Test suspension: containing test substance and inoculum (2 bottles)
Inoculum blank: containing only inoculum (2 bottles)
Positive control: containing reference substance and inoculum (1 bottle)
Toxicity control: containing test substance, reference substance and inoculum (1 bottle)
- Method used to create aerobic conditions: Synthetic air (a mixture of oxygen (21%) and nitrogen (79%), with CO2 < 1 ppm) was sparged through the solutions at a rate of approximately 1-2 bubbles per second (ca. 30-100 mL/min).
- Details of trap for CO2 and volatile organics if used: CO2 was trapped in barium hydroxide solution. Three CO2-absorbers (bottles filled with 100 mL 0.0125 M Ba(OH)2) were connected in series to the exit air line of each test bottle. The amount of CO2 produced was determined by titrating the remaining Ba(OH)2 with 0.05 M standardized HCl (1:20 dilution from 1 M HCl (Titrisol® ampul). Titrations were made every second or third day during the first 10 days, and thereafter at least every fifth day until the 28th day, for the inoculum blanks and test suspensions. Titrations for the positive and toxicity control were made over a period of at least 14 days. Each time the CO2-absorber nearest to the test bottle was removed for titration; each of the remaining two absorbers was moved one position in the direction of the test bottle. A new CO2-absorber was placed at the far end of the series. Phenolphthalein (1% solution in ethanol, Merck) was used as pH-indicator. On the 28th day, the pH of the test suspensions was measured and 1 mL of concentrated HCl (37%, Merck) was added to each bottle. The bottles were aerated overnight to drive off CO2 present in the test suspension. The final titration was made on day 29.

SAMPLING
- Sampling frequency: Titrations were made on day: 2, 5, 7, 9, 14, 19, 23, 27 and 29
- Sampling method: Titration of the whole volume of CO2-absorber

CONTROL AND BLANK SYSTEM
- Inoculum blank: yes
- Abiotic sterile control: no
- Toxicity control: yes

Reference substance

Reference substance:

acetic acid, sodium salt

Results and discussion

% Degradation

Key result

Parameter:

% degradation (CO2 evolution)

Value:

15

Sampling time:

29 d

Remarks on result:

other: HCl added on the 28th day (last CO2-measurement on the 29th day); mean of two measurements

Details on results:

- Theoretical CO2 production:
The ThCO2 of the substance was calculated to be 2.28 mg CO2/mg.
The ThCO2 of sodium acetate was calculated to be 1.07 mg CO2/mg.
- Biodegradation:
The relative biodegradation values calculated from the measurements performed during the test period revealed 18% and 12% biodegradation of the test substance, for A and B, respectively (based on ThCO2)). Thus, the criterion for ready biodegradability was not met.
- In the toxicity control, more than 25% biodegradation occurred within 14 days (29%, based on ThCO2). Therefore, the test substance was assumed not to inhibit microbial activity.
- Functioning of the test system was checked by testing the reference substance sodium acetate, which showed a normal biodegradation curve.

BOD5 / COD results

Results with reference substance:

The positive control substance was biodegraded by at least 60% (73%) within 14 days.

Any other information on results incl. tables

Acceptability of the test:

- The positive control substance was biodegraded by at least 60% (73%) within 14 days.

- The difference of duplicate values for %-degradation of the test substance was always less than 20 (≤ 11%).

- The total CO2 release in the blank at the end of the test did not exceed 40 mg/L (44.0 mg CO2 per 2 litres of medium, corresponding to 22.0 mg CO2/L).

- The Inorganic Carbon content (IC) of the test substance (suspension) in the mineral medium at the beginning of the test was less than 5% of the Total Carbon content (TC). Since the test medium was prepared in tap-water purified by reverse osmosis (Milli-RO water (Millipore Corp., USA, carbon levels < 500 ppb)), IC was less than 5% of TC (mainly coming from the test substance, 12 mg TOC/L).

Since all criteria for acceptability of the test were met, this study was considered to be valid.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Validity criteria fulfilled:

yes

Interpretation of results:

not readily biodegradable

Conclusions:

Under the conditions of the modified Sturm test the test item was determined to be not readily biodegradable.

Executive summary:

The ready biodegradation of the test item under the conditions of the carbon dioxide (CO2) evolution test (modified Sturm test) was investigated according to OECD guideline 301 B and GLP principles. A test concentration of 12 mg/L (as TOC) was tested in duplicate during 28 days. The relative biodegradation values calculated from the measurements performed during the test period revealed 18 and 12% biodegradation, for replicate A and B, respectively (based on ThCO2)). In the toxicity control, the substance was found not to inhibit microbial activity. The study is considered to be reliable without restrictions. In conclusion, the substance was determined to be not readily biodegradable under the conditions of the modified Sturm test.