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Environmental fate & pathways

Biodegradation in water: screening tests

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Reference
Endpoint:
biodegradation in water: ready biodegradability
Type of information:
experimental study
Adequacy of study:
key study
Study period:
2009
Reliability:
1 (reliable without restriction)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
guideline study
Qualifier:
according to guideline
Guideline:
OECD Guideline 301 B (Ready Biodegradability: CO2 Evolution Test)
Version / remarks:
adopted 14 July, 1992
Deviations:
yes
Remarks:
Concentration of suspended solids was 6.5 g/L (instead of 3-5 g/L). Therefore, 7.5 instead of 10 mL/L of the supernatant was used as inoculum. The deviation was considered to have no effect on the outcome of this study.
Qualifier:
according to guideline
Guideline:
EU Method C.4-C (Determination of the "Ready" Biodegradability - Carbon Dioxide Evolution Test)
Version / remarks:
December 1992
Deviations:
yes
Remarks:
Concentration of suspended solids was 6.5 g/L (instead of 3-5 g/L). Therefore, 7.5 instead of 10 mL/L of the supernatant was used as inoculum. The deviation was considered to have no effect on the outcome of this study.
GLP compliance:
yes
Oxygen conditions:
aerobic
Inoculum or test system:
activated sludge, domestic (adaptation not specified)
Details on inoculum:
- Source of inoculum/activated sludge: obtained from municipal sewage treatment plant Waterschap de Maaskant, 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands.
- Storage conditions: kept under continuous aeration until further treatment
- Preparation of inoculum for exposure: sludge was allowed to settle (59 minutes) andthe liquid was decanted for use as inoculum at the amount of 7.5 mL/L of mineral medium

Duration of test (contact time):
28 d
Initial conc.:
19.5 mg/L
Based on:
test mat.
Initial conc.:
12 mg/L
Based on:
TOC
Parameter followed for biodegradation estimation:
CO2 evolution
Details on study design:
TEST CONDITIONS
- Composition of medium:
A) 8.50 g KH2PO4, 21.75 g K2HPO4, 67.20 g Na2HPO4*12H20, 0.50 g NH4CI, dissolved in Milli-Q water 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 CaCI2*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.
Mineral medium: 1 litre mineral medium contains: 10 ml of solution (A), 1 ml of solutions (B) to (D) and Milli-RO water.
(Tap-water purified by reverse osmosis (Milli-RO) and subsequently passed over activated carbon and ionexchange cartridges (Milli-Q) (Millipore Corp., Bedford, Mass., USA).
- Additional substrate: no
- Test temperature: 21.2 °C - 23.5 °C
- pH: 7.4 - 7.7
- pH adjusted: no
- Aeration of dilution water: Synthetic air (CO2 < 1 ppm): A mixture of oxygen (ca. 20%) and nitrogen (ca. 80%) was passed through a bottle, containing 0.5 - 1 L 0.0125 M
- Suspended solids concentration: 6.5 g/L suspended solids
- Continuous darkness: yes

TEST SYSTEM
- Number of culture flasks/concentration: 2
- Measuring equipment: 0.05 m standardised HCl
- Details of trap for CO2 and volatile organics if used: Ba(OH)2 solution

SAMPLING
- Sampling frequency: 2, 5, 7, 9, 14, 19, 23, 27 and 29 days
- Sampling method: CO2-absorber nearest to test bottle was removed for titration

CONTROL AND BLANK SYSTEM
- Inoculum blank: yes, 2 bottles
- Toxicity control: yes, 1 bottle
- Positive control: yes, 1 bottle
Reference substance:
acetic acid, sodium salt
Parameter:
% degradation (CO2 evolution)
Value:
0
Sampling time:
2 d
Remarks on result:
other: mean of bottle A and bottle B
Parameter:
% degradation (CO2 evolution)
Value:
1
Sampling time:
5 d
Remarks on result:
other: mean of bottle A and bottle B
Parameter:
% degradation (CO2 evolution)
Value:
3
Sampling time:
14 d
Remarks on result:
other: mean of bottle A and bottle B
Parameter:
% degradation (CO2 evolution)
Value:
4
Sampling time:
23 d
Remarks on result:
other: mean of bottle A and bottle B
Parameter:
% degradation (CO2 evolution)
Value:
8
Sampling time:
29 d
Remarks on result:
other: mean of bottle A and bottle B
Details on results:
The percentage biodegradation in the toxicity control was > 25% (33% based on ThCO2) after 14 days. Therefore, the test substance was assumed not to inhibit microbial activity.
Results with reference substance:
The reference substance was degraded to 68% after 14 days.
Validity criteria fulfilled:
yes
Interpretation of results:
not readily biodegradable
Conclusions:
MATMD was not readily biodegradable under the conditions of the modified Sturm test.

Description of key information

The substance is not readily biodegradable (8% after 28 d, OECD 301B).

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Biodegradation in water:
not biodegradable
Type of water:
freshwater

Additional information

The ready biodegradabiltity of the substance was tested in a guideline study following OECD 301B. The substance was inoculated with activated sludge taken from a municipal sewage treatment plant. The degradation rate was determined by measuring the CO2 evolution during the test period of 28 days. At test termination a degradation rate of 8% was determined. Based on the test results the substance is not readily biodegradable according to OECD criteria.