2,3-epoxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride

Biodegradation in water: screening tests

Administrative data

Endpoint:

biodegradation in water: inherent biodegradability

Type of information:

other: EU Risk Assessment report

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

2008

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: see 'Remark'

Remarks:

Although the EU risk assessment report is secondary literature, all data and risk assessment for the human, health and the environment have been evaluated and reviewed by Finland prior to publication. The risk assessment report has been submitted to final approval and published in the Official Journal of the European Union C157/10 dated on 21.06.2008. Thus, it is considered the information reported is reliable with the restrictions that reliability of the data presented has not been assessed again.

Cross-reference

Reason / purpose for cross-reference:

reference to same study

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

European Union Risk Assessment 2,3-epoxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride CAS RN 3033-77-0 Einecs No: 221-221-0

Author:

EC

Year:

2008

Bibliographic source:

Risk Assessment. Final approved version. Rapporteur: Finland (FIN). European communities. Printed in Italy. 147pp

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

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

GLP compliance:

not specified

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

2,3-epoxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride

EC Number:

221-221-0

EC Name:

2,3-epoxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride

Cas Number:

3033-77-0

Molecular formula:

C6H14NO.Cl

IUPAC Name:

N,N,N-trimethyl(oxiran-2-yl)methanaminium chloride

Details on test material:

no data

Specific details on test material used for the study:

Details on properties of test surrogate or analogue material (migrated information):
no data

Study design

Oxygen conditions:

not specified

Inoculum or test system:

activated sludge, non-adapted

Details on inoculum:

- Concentration of sludge: 1000 mg/L dry matter

Duration of test (contact time):

ca. 42 d

Parameter followed for biodegradation estimation

Parameter followed for biodegradation estimation:

DOC removal

Details on study design:

The inoculum used in the test was non adapted activated sludge from the sewage treatment plant and the concentration of the test substance was 685 mg/l. Both the concentration of the substance 685 mg/l (250 mg DOC/l) and the concentration of the inoculum (1000 mg/l dry matter) were in the range of the test guideline. The pH in the test was checked at each sampling day and adjusted to pH 7-8 and the temperature was in the required range (19 – 23 °C).

Results and discussion

Preliminary study:

no data

Test performance:

no data

% Degradation

% Degradation 1

Parameter:

% degradation (DOC removal)

Value:

ca. 61

Sampling time:

28 d

% Degradation 2

Parameter:

% degradation (DOC removal)

Value:

ca. 94

Sampling time:

42 d

Details on results:

no data

BOD5 / COD results

Results with reference substance:

no data

Any other information on results incl. tables

no data

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Validity criteria fulfilled:

not specified

Interpretation of results:

inherently biodegradable

Conclusions:

A decrease of DOC by 61 % was found after 28 days in the inherent test following OECD test guideline 302B (Zahn-Wellens/EMPA test) (CEFIC, 1998c). After 42 days 94 % of the EPTAC was degraded. The criteria to be classified as "inherently biodegradable" was not fulfilled in this test (70 % in 28 days).

Executive summary:

A decrease of DOC by 61 % was found after 28 days in the inherent test following OECD test guideline 302B (Zahn-Wellens/EMPA test) (CEFIC, 1998c). After 42 days 94 % of the EPTAC was degraded. The inoculum used in the test was non adapted activated sludge from the sewage treatment plant and the concentration of the test substance was 685 mg/l. Both the concentration of the substance 685 mg/l (250 mg DOC/l) and the concentration of the inoculum (1000 mg/l dry matter) were in the range of the test guideline. The pH in the test was checked at each sampling day and adjusted to pH 7-8 and the temperature was in the required range (19 – 23 °C). The criteria to be classified as "inherently biodegradable" was not fulfilled in this test (70 % in 28 days).

In 2005 an STP simulation test (Porous pot test) was conducted for EPTAC according to OECD 303A guideline. Test period was 135 days, where DOC elimination of the organic medium reached a degradation rate > 80 % after 9 days and test item application started on day 40. Once the DOC results indicated removal of EPTAC, the specific analysis of EPTAC, CHPTAC and DIOL were carried out via LC-MS/MS i.e. on day 40. Influent and effluent concentrations and adsorption on the activated sludge were determined for selected samples. Influent concentration of EPTAC was 60.7 mg/l, which is in the range of measured influent concentrations at starch cationisation sites. The primary degradation of EPTAC was in the range of 0-30 %. No clear degradation tendency was observed and no plateau was reached. Mean primary degradation was calculated from 14 (out of total 24) measurements which were done on days 100–113, corresponding to days 61–74 of test item application. The mean primary degradation of EPTAC was 15 ± 9.7 %. As the sludge retention time was 6 hours, an average half-life of 20 hours can be calculated. This can be translated to a rate constant of 0.0347 h^-1. With this rate constant a degradation of 19.2 % at STP can be calculated with EUSES (Simple Treat). Indication of rather slow degradation can also be seen from four BOD5-values reported. Three of the BOD5–values were zero and one was 0.03 g/g with very high dilution. However documentation was in sufficient for detailed assessment of the tests.

Furthermore nine starch cationisation sites have provided measured EPTAC influent and effluent concentrations. For six of the sites EPTAC concentration in untreated waste water at WWTP is higher than measured concentration in the effluent i.e. removal of 52, 82, 90, 95, 96 and 98 % of EPTAC can be seen. This decrease could be partly due to biodegradation, but also due to hydrolysis and dilution, and therefore it has not been possible to estimate the general biodegradation rate based on this data. The starch cationisation process is a batch process and based on info from industry the number of days in operation has ranged from 10 to 360, with majority between 300 to 350 days. Therefore the exposure of EPTAC to microbes at WWTP may not be constant at all cationisation sites, and thus microbes may not be adapted to degrade EPTAC at all sites. As a conclusion results from the simulation test will be used in further calculations for estimation of degradation at STP. Based on the information available regarding degradation in the environment EPTAC can be regarded as inherently biodegradable but not fulfilling the criteria set in the TGD. As a consequence the EPTAC half-lives will in STP be 20 hours, in surface water 150 days and in sediment 300 d.