Triethylene glycol bis(2-ethylbutyrate)

SRP: At the time of review, criteria for land treatment or burial (sanitary landfill) disposal practices are subject to significant revision. Prior to implementing land disposal of waste residue (including waste sludge), consult with environmental regulatory agencies for guidance on acceptable disposal practices.

TERRESTRIAL FATE: Based on a recommended classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 240(SRC), determined from an experimental water solubility(2) and a recommended regression-derived equation(3), indicates that triethylene glycol bis(2-ethylbutyrate) will have moderate mobility in soil(SRC). Volatilization of triethylene glycol bis(2-ethylbutyrate) is not expected to be important from moist soil surfaces(SRC) given an estimated Henry's Law constant of 1X10-11 atm-cu m/mole(SRC), using a recommended regression equation(4). Volatilization from dry soil surfaces(SRC) is not expected based on an estimated vapor pressure of 9X10-5 mm Hg(SRC), determined from a fragment constant method(5). According to a biodegradation study(6), triethylene glycol bis(2-ethylbutyrate) will biodegrade quickly in soil(SRC).

AQUATIC FATE: Based on a recommended classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 240(SRC), determined from an experimental water solubility(2) and a recommended regression-derived equation(1), indicates that triethylene glycol bis(2-ethylbutyrate) may adsorb to suspended solids and sediment in the water(SRC). Triethylene glycol bis(2-ethylbutyrate) will be essentially non-volatile from water surfaces(1,SRC) based on an estimated Henry's Law constant of 1X10-11 atm-cu m/mole(SRC), developed using a fragment constant estimation method(3). According to a classification scheme(4), an estimated BCF value of 31(1,SRC), from an experimental water solubility(2), suggests that bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is moderate, not high(SRC). Base-catalyzed hydrolysis half-lives for triethylene glycol bis(2-ethylbutyrate) have been estimated(SRC), through a structure estimation method(5), to be 2.9 years and 29 years at pHs of 8 and 7, respectively(5,SRC). According to a biodegradation study(6), triethylene glycol bis(2-ethylbutyrate) will biodegrade quickly in water(SRC).

ATMOSPHERIC FATE: According to a model of gas/particle partitioning of semivolatile organic compounds in the atmosphere(1), triethylene glycol bis(2-ethylbutyrate), which has an estimated vapor pressure of 9X10-5 mm Hg at 25 °C(2,SRC), will exist in both the vapor and particulate phases in the ambient atmosphere. Vapor-phase triethylene glycol bis(2-ethylbutyrate) is degraded in the atmosphere by reaction with photochemically produced hydroxyl radicals(SRC); the half-life for this reaction in air is estimated to be about 10 hours(3,SRC). Particulate-phase triethylene glycol bis(2-ethylbutyrate) may be physically removed from the air by wet and dry deposition(SRC).

The Koc of triethylene glycol bis(2-ethylbutyrate) is estimated as approximately 240(SRC), using an experimental water solubility of 200 mg/l(1,SRC) and a regression-derived equation(2,SRC). According to a recommended classification scheme(3), this estimated Koc value suggests that triethylene glycol bis(2-ethylbutyrate) has medium mobility in soil(SRC).

The acute inhalation toxicity of triethylene glycol di(2-ethylbutyrate) was evaluated in groups of six rats (strain not reported) receiving whole body exposure. Animals were exposed to the mist formed by bubbling a stream of air through test article at 170 degrees Celsius. The maximum and minimum periods of exposure resulting in no fatality and all animals dying were 15 and 30 minutes, respectively.

An estimated BCF value of 31 was calculated for triethylene glycol bis(2-ethylbutyrate)(SRC), using an experimental water solubility of 200 mg/l(1) and a recommended regression-derived equation(2). According to a classification scheme(3), this BCF value suggests that bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is moderate, not high(SRC).

The Henry's Law constant for triethylene glycol bis(2-ethylbutyrate) is estimated as 1X10-11 atm-cu m/mole(SRC) using a fragment constant estimation method(1). This value indicates that triethylene glycol bis(2-ethylbutyrate) will be essentially nonvolatile from water surfaces(2,SRC). Triethylene glycol bis(2-ethylbutyrate)'s values for vapor pressure, 9X10-5 mm Hg(3,SRC) and Henry's Law constant(1,SRC) indicate that volatilization from dry and moist soil surfaces should not occur(SRC).

The rate constant for the vapor-phase reaction of triethylene glycol bis(2-ethylbutyrate) with photochemically produced hydroxyl radicals has been estimated as 3.9X10-11 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C(SRC) using a structure estimation method(1,SRC). This corresponds to an atmospheric half-life of about 10 hours at an atmospheric concentration of 5X10+5 hydroxyl radicals per cu cm(1,SRC). Base-catalyzed hydrolysis half-lives for triethylene glycol bis(2-ethylbutyrate) have been estimated(SRC), through a structure estimation method(2), to be 2.9 years and 29 years at pHs of 8 and 7, respectively(2,SRC).

Triethylene glycol bis(2-ethylbutyrate)'s production and use as an plasticizer may result in its release to the environment through various waste streams. If released to soil, triethylene glycol bis(2-ethylbutyrate) will have moderate mobility based on an estimated Koc value of 240. Volatilization of triethylene glycol bis(2-ethylbutyrate) should not be important from moist soil surfaces given an estimated Henry's Law constant of 1X10-11 atm-cu m/mole. Volatilization from dry soil surfaces is not expected either based on an estimated vapor pressure of 9X10-5 mm Hg. According to a biodegradation study, triethylene glycol bis(2-ethylbutyrate) will biodegrade quickly in soil and water. If released to water, triethylene glycol bis(2-ethylbutyrate) may adsorb to suspended solids and sediment. Triethylene glycol bis(2-ethylbutyrate) will be essentially non-volatile from water surfaces based on an estimated Henry's Law constant of 1X10-11 atm-cu m/mole. An estimated BCF value of 31 suggests that bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is moderate, not high. Triethylene glycol bis(2-ethylbutyrate) has estimated based-catalyzed hydrolysis half-lives of 2.9 years at a pH of 8 and 29 years at a pH of 7. If released to the atmosphere, triethylene glycol bis(2-ethylbutyrate), which has an estimated vapor pressure of 9X10-5 mm Hg, will exist in both the vapor and particulate phases. Vapor-phase triethylene glycol bis(2-ethylbutyrate) is degraded in the atmosphere by reaction with photochemically produced hydroxyl radicals with an estimated half-life of about 10 hours. Particulate-phase triethylene glycol bis(2-ethylbutyrate) may be physically removed from the air by wet and dry deposition. Occupational exposure may occur through inhalation and dermal contact with this compound at workplaces where triethylene glycol bis(2-ethylbutyrate) is produced and used. (SRC)