Biodegradation and toxicity to fish of di-long-chain tertiary amine salt containing ester and amide bonds

Biodegradability of N-(3-alkanoylaminopropyl)-N-(2-alkanoyloxyethyl)-N- methylammonium chloride (EAA) was investigated. Biodegradabilities by biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) after 28 days were 79 and 91%, respectively, and almost the same amount of ammonium ion as the theoretical value was detected using a modified MITI test (I) (OECD guidelines, 301C). In the test with activated sludge obtained from a municipal sewage treatment plant, biodegradabilities by BOD and DOC after 35 days were 87 and 98%, respectively, and the 1H-NMR analysis of the tested solution which was done separately under similar conditions indicated the rise and fall of two biodegradation intermediates. Therefore, EEA was considered to be a readily and ultimately biodegradable compound. Besides, the 96-hr LC50 value in red killifish (Oryzias latipes) of EAA was 66 mg/liter. More than 1000 mg/liter was of biodegradation intermediates rapidly made by biodegradation of EAA. These results reveal that EAA has sufficient environmental compatibility.