Handbook of Solvents - George Wypych - ChemTech - Ventech!

17.3 Environmental fate of glycol ethers 1171
17.3.3 ENVIRONMENTAL BEHAVIOR
Due to their high water solubilities and low 1-octanol/water partition coefficients (log P),
the glycol ethers, after release in the environment, will be preferentially found in the aquatic
media and their accumulation in soils, sediments, and biota will be negligible.
The available literature data on the biodegradation of glycol ethers reveal that most of
these chemicals are biodegradable under aerobic conditions (Table 17.3.1), suggesting the
compounds would not likely persist.
Table 17.3.1. Aerobic biodegradation of glycol ethers and their acetates in aquatic
environments and soils
Name [CAS RN], Values
Ethylene glycol monomethyl ether [109-86-4]
Comments Ref.
5 d = 30% bio-oxidation, 10 d = 62%,
15 d = 74%, 20 d=88%
5d=6%bio-oxidation, 10 d = 18%,
15 d = 23%, 20 d=39%
ThOD = 1.68 g/g, BOD5 = 0.12 g/g,
%ThOD = 7, COD = 1.69 g/g,
%ThOD = 101
filtered domestic wastewater, non-acclimated seed, 3, 7,
10 mg/l (at least two), fresh water
filtered domestic wastewater, non-acclimated seed, 3, 7,
10 mg/l (at least two), salt water
effluent from a biological sanitary waste treatment
plant, 20 ± 1°C, unadapted seed, BOD = APHA SM
219, COD = ASTM D 1252-67
BOD 5 = 0.50 g/g, %ThOD = 30 same conditions, adapted seed 11
Ethylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate [110-49-6]
ThOD = 1.63 g/g, BOD 5 = 0.49 g/g,
%ThOD = 30, COD = 1.60 g/g,
%ThOD = 98
Ethylene glycol monoethyl ether [110-80-5]
5 d = 36% bio-oxidation, 10 d = 88%,
15 d = 92%, 20 d = 100%
5d=5%bio-oxidation, 10 d = 42%,
15 d = 50%, 20 d=62%
ThOD = 1.96 g/g, BOD5 = 1.03 g/g,
%ThOD = 53, COD = 1.92 g/g,
%ThOD = 98
effluent from a biological sanitary waste treatment
plant, 20 ± 1°C, unadapted seed, BOD = APHA SM 219,
COD = ASTM D 1252-67
filtered domestic wastewater, non-acclimated seed, 3, 7,
10 mg/l (at least two), fresh water
filtered domestic wastewater, non-acclimated seed, 3, 7,
10 mg/l (at least two), salt water
effluent from a biological sanitary waste treatment
plant, 20 ± 1°C, unadapted seed, BOD = APHA SM 219,
COD = ASTM D 1252-67
BOD 5 = 1.27 g/g, %ThOD = 65 same conditions, adapted seed 11
COD removed = 91.7% mixed culture, acclimation in a semi-continuous system 12
BOD 5 = 0.353 g/g, BOD/ThOD = 18.1% fresh water, standard dilution method, 10 mg/l 13
BOD5 = 0.021 g/g, BOD/ThOD = 1.1% sea water, 10 mg/l 13
Ethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate [111-15-9]
5 d = 36% bio-oxidation, 10 d = 79%,
15 d = 82%, 20 d=80%
5 d = 10% bio-oxidation, 10 d = 44%,
15 d = 59%, 20 d=69%
filtered domestic wastewater, non-acclimated seed, 3, 7,
10 mg/l (at least two), fresh water
filtered domestic wastewater, non-acclimated seed, 3, 7,
10 mg/l (at least two), salt water
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