Uronium hydrogen sulphate

Biodegradation in soil

Administrative data

Endpoint:

biodegradation in soil

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

weight of evidence

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

data from handbook or collection of data

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Zum biochemischen Harnstoffabbau in wäßriger Lösung - Übersicht

Author:

Gunkel, K., Kümmel, R. & Tümpling, W.v.

Year:

1990

Bibliographic source:

Acta Hydrochimica et Hydrobiologica 18(1): 1-20

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

no guideline available

Principles of method if other than guideline:

The authors review the results of a number of studies investigating the degradation of urea in soil.

GLP compliance:

not specified

Remarks:

: published literature study

Test type:

field trial

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Urea

EC Number:

200-315-5

EC Name:

Urea

Cas Number:

57-13-6

Molecular formula:

CH4N2O

IUPAC Name:

urea

Details on test material:

No further details

Specific details on test material used for the study:

Details on properties of test surrogate or analogue material

Radiolabelling:

no

Study design

Oxygen conditions:

aerobic

Soil classification:

not specified

Details on soil characteristics:

No details given.

Details on experimental conditions:

There are no experimental conditions given.

Results and discussion

% Degradation

Remarks on result:

other: In soil and water urea is expected to biodegrade fairly rapidly to ammonia and bicarbonate.

Transformation products:

yes

Identity of transformation products

Identity of transformation products 1

No.:

#1

Reference

Reference substance name:

Unnamed

IUPAC name:

ammonia

Inventory number:

InventoryMultipleMappingImpl [inventoryEntryValue=EC 231-635-3]

CAS number:

7664-41-7

Identity:

Ammonia

Identity:

ammonia

Molecular formula:

H3N

Molecular weight:

17.03

SMILES notation:

N

InChl:

InChI=1/H3N/h1H3

Identity of transformation products 2

No.:

#2

Reference

Reference substance name:

Unnamed

IUPAC name:

Bicarbonate

Identifier:

common name

Identity:

Bicarbonate

Details on transformation products:

In soil and water urea is expected to biodegrade fairly rapidly to ammonia and bicarbonate.

Evaporation of parent compound:

no

Volatile metabolites:

no

Residues:

no

Details on results:

The main mode of degradation is enzymatic mineralization. In soil and water urea is expected to biodegrade fairly rapidly to ammonia and bicarbonate if the temperature is not too low. The main mode of degradation is 1. NH2CONH2 +2H2O (urease-enzyme) --> NH3 +NH4 +HCO3-
2. NH4 +1.5O2 nitrosomonas --> NO2 +H2O +2H+ --> NO2- +0.5 O2 nitrobacter --> NO3-

Results with reference substance:

No further remarks

Any other information on results incl. tables

No further remarks

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

The main mode of degradation is enzymatic mineralization. In soil and water urea is expected to biodegrade fairly rapidly to ammonia and bicarbonate if the temperature is not too low.

Executive summary:

The authors review the results of a number of studies investigating the degradation of urea in soil. They conclude that the main mode of urea degradation is enzymatic mineralization. In soil and water, urea is expected to biodegrade fairly rapidly to ammonia and bicarbonate if the temperature is not too low. The main factors affecting the rates of nitrogen metabolization are the initial concentration of the ureolytic bacteria, the physical state of the nitrifying micro-organisms and the concentration of toxic organics.