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EC number: 209-810-0 | CAS number: 593-81-7
- Life Cycle description
- Uses advised against
- Endpoint summary
- Appearance / physical state / colour
- Melting point / freezing point
- Boiling point
- Density
- Particle size distribution (Granulometry)
- Vapour pressure
- Partition coefficient
- Water solubility
- Solubility in organic solvents / fat solubility
- Surface tension
- Flash point
- Auto flammability
- Flammability
- Explosiveness
- Oxidising properties
- Oxidation reduction potential
- Stability in organic solvents and identity of relevant degradation products
- Storage stability and reactivity towards container material
- Stability: thermal, sunlight, metals
- pH
- Dissociation constant
- Viscosity
- Additional physico-chemical information
- Additional physico-chemical properties of nanomaterials
- Nanomaterial agglomeration / aggregation
- Nanomaterial crystalline phase
- Nanomaterial crystallite and grain size
- Nanomaterial aspect ratio / shape
- Nanomaterial specific surface area
- Nanomaterial Zeta potential
- Nanomaterial surface chemistry
- Nanomaterial dustiness
- Nanomaterial porosity
- Nanomaterial pour density
- Nanomaterial photocatalytic activity
- Nanomaterial radical formation potential
- Nanomaterial catalytic activity
- Endpoint summary
- Stability
- Biodegradation
- Bioaccumulation
- Transport and distribution
- Environmental data
- Additional information on environmental fate and behaviour
- Ecotoxicological Summary
- Aquatic toxicity
- Endpoint summary
- Short-term toxicity to fish
- Long-term toxicity to fish
- Short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates
- Long-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates
- Toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria
- Toxicity to aquatic plants other than algae
- Toxicity to microorganisms
- Endocrine disrupter testing in aquatic vertebrates – in vivo
- Toxicity to other aquatic organisms
- Sediment toxicity
- Terrestrial toxicity
- Biological effects monitoring
- Biotransformation and kinetics
- Additional ecotoxological information
- Toxicological Summary
- Toxicokinetics, metabolism and distribution
- Acute Toxicity
- Irritation / corrosion
- Sensitisation
- Repeated dose toxicity
- Genetic toxicity
- Carcinogenicity
- Toxicity to reproduction
- Specific investigations
- Exposure related observations in humans
- Toxic effects on livestock and pets
- Additional toxicological data
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Biodegradation in water: screening tests
Administrative data
Link to relevant study record(s)
- Endpoint:
- biodegradation in water: ready biodegradability
- Type of information:
- experimental study
- Adequacy of study:
- supporting study
- Reliability:
- 2 (reliable with restrictions)
- Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
- other: Guideline study; not GLP
- Qualifier:
- according to guideline
- Guideline:
- OECD Guideline 301 F (Ready Biodegradability: Manometric Respirometry Test)
- GLP compliance:
- no
- Oxygen conditions:
- not specified
- Inoculum or test system:
- other: industrial sludge (BASF); BSB/CSB
- Initial conc.:
- 366 mg/L
- Based on:
- DOC
- Value:
- > 70
- Sampling time:
- 8 d
- Details on results:
- BOD/COD value > 90 %, lag-phase: 4 d.
- Validity criteria fulfilled:
- not specified
- Interpretation of results:
- other: biodegradation observed
- Conclusions:
- Biodegradation of the substance trimethylamine occurs.
- Executive summary:
The biodegadation of trimethylamine (CAS 75-50-3) has been investigated according to OECD Guideline 301 F (Ready biodegradability: Manometric Respirometry Test). GLP compliance is not given. As inoculum, industrial sludge has been used. The initial substance concentration was determined to be 366 mg/L DOC. After 8 days, more than 70% of degradation has occurred.
- Endpoint:
- biodegradation in water: ready biodegradability
- Type of information:
- experimental study
- Adequacy of study:
- key study
- Reliability:
- 2 (reliable with restrictions)
- Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
- other: Guideline study, not GLP
- Qualifier:
- according to guideline
- Guideline:
- OECD Guideline 301 C (Ready Biodegradability: Modified MITI Test (I))
- GLP compliance:
- no
- Oxygen conditions:
- aerobic
- Inoculum or test system:
- activated sludge (adaptation not specified)
- Details on inoculum:
- concentration of sludge: 30 mg/L
- Duration of test (contact time):
- 14 d
- Initial conc.:
- 100 mg/L
- Based on:
- test mat.
- Parameter followed for biodegradation estimation:
- O2 consumption
- Reference substance:
- aniline
- Parameter:
- % degradation (O2 consumption)
- Value:
- 92
- Sampling time:
- 14 d
- Details on results:
- Degree of biodegradation: 92% (NH3) by BOD; 66% (NO2) by BOD
- Results with reference substance:
- no data given.
- Validity criteria fulfilled:
- yes
- Interpretation of results:
- readily biodegradable
- Conclusions:
- The test substance is readily biodegradable.
- Executive summary:
The biodegradation of trimethylamine (CAS 75-50-3) was investigated according to OECD Guideline 301C (Ready Biodegradability: Modified MITI Test (I)). GLP compliance is not given. Under aerobic test conditions, the activated sludge (30 mg/L) was exposed to the test substance (100 mg/L) for 14 days. 92 % degradation has occurred within 14 days, based on O2 consumption. As reference substance, aniline has been used.
Referenceopen allclose all
Description of key information
The read across substance trimethylamine can be regarded as readily biodegradable according to OECD criteria.
Accordingly, Trimethylammonium Chloride is expected to be also readly biodegradable.
This is supported by the results of a supporting study available for Trimethylammonium Chloride.
Ayanaba and Alexander conducted several experiments in 1974. Added trimethylamine (as the hydrochloride) is converted to dimethylamine in samples of raw sewage and lake water, and the secondary amine thus formed or added dimethylamine disappears with time (Ayanaba and Alexander, 1974). The rates of formation and disappearance of dimethylamine are governed by the pH and the type and amount of inorganic N present. Ammonium is generated from both of the amines. Dimethylnitrosamine, a potent carcinogen, is formed in small amounts in samples of sewage and lake water receiving dimethylamine and nitrite, the maximum nitrosamine level detected rising with increasing acidity and increasing dimethylamine and nitrite concentrations. Dimethylnitrosamine also appears in sewage and lake water samples receiving trimethylamine. Microorganisms are involved in some stage of the conversion of the tertiary amine to the secondary amine and dimethylnitrosamine in sewage because these products are not found in sterilized sewage. The fungicide thiram (tetramethylthiuram disulfide) is converted to dimethylamine in sterilized sewage at pH 4.0, and small amounts of dimethylnitrosamine are also produced in the presence of nitrite; the yields of both products are far greater in nonsterile, thiram-amended sewage. The identification of dimethylnitrosamine was verified by thin-layer and gas chromatography, ultraviolet and infrared spectrometry, and combined gas chromatrophy-mass spectrometry.
Key value for chemical safety assessment
- Biodegradation in water:
- readily biodegradable
Additional information
Two independent ready biodegradablility tests according to OECD criteria were performed with the read across substance trimethylamine and in both cases trimethylamine was found to be degradable. A test (Key study 1, 1992) was conducted according to OECD guideline 301C, whereby 92 % of test substance was degraded after 14 days. This result is based on the O2 consumption by activated sludge. Industrial sludge was tested (Key study 2, 1980) in an experiment according to OECD guideline 301F. More than 70 % degradation of test substance has had occured after 8 days.
In addition, a test (Supporting study 1, 1974) revealed that trimethylammonium chloride was converted to dimethylamine in samples of raw sewage and lake water, and the secondary amine thus formed or added dimethylamine disappears with time. The following has been shown to be formed: Ammonium, Dimethylnitrosamine (in small amounts).
Trimethylamine and Trimethylammonium chloride belong to the group of tertiary aliphatic amines with a sp³-hybridized nitrogen with three methyl groups (common structure / functional group). The solvation of both Trimethylamine and Trimethylammonium chloride in water results in solutions of the Trimethylammonium cation (common "breakdown product"). Both respective counterions are naturally and ubiquitous occurring ions and are also to a certain extent required for the maintenance of various body functions. Besides the influence on the pH value of an aqueous solution (OH-), they do not bear a relevant intrinsic property, allowing one in general to focus on the Trimethylammonium cation. Biodegradation of the respective counterion is not applicable (Cl-, OH-) in the aqueous environment, so only the trimethylammonium cation undergoes biodegradation. It is believed to be metabolised by the same mechanisms by microorganisms and by other classes of living organisms. Therefore they are expected to follow the same pattern of biodegradation. For the detailed procedure of the read-across principle and justifications, please refer to the analogue approach justification depicted below and the separate Read-Across Statement (Chemservice S.A., 2015).
Information on Registered Substances comes from registration dossiers which have been assigned a registration number. The assignment of a registration number does however not guarantee that the information in the dossier is correct or that the dossier is compliant with Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (the REACH Regulation). This information has not been reviewed or verified by the Agency or any other authority. The content is subject to change without prior notice.
Reproduction or further distribution of this information may be subject to copyright protection. Use of the information without obtaining the permission from the owner(s) of the respective information might violate the rights of the owner.
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