Effects of low temperature on the biodegradation of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol
- Union Carbide Corp., South Charleston, WV (United States)
Ethylene glycol and propylene glycol are used in a variety of applications. These compounds are well known to biodegrade readily at 20 C, which is the benchmark temperature for most biodegradation studies. These compounds may enter the environment when the ambient temperatures are significantly below 20 C. Biodegradation data at low temperatures was needed. For example, wintertime airport stormwater discharges contain glycols from deicing fluids. These compounds may enter streams at ambient winter temperatures, or wastewater treatment works which may be operating at temperatures well below 20 C. Biodegradation studies were conducted with BOD bottles incubated at 40 C and 10 C. Biodegradation was slower than 20 C but still significant. For ethylene glycol, the half-life (time at which one-half of the oxygen demand was consumed by the microorganisms) was 5 days at 20 C, 8 days at 10 C, and 25 days at 40 C. For propylene glycol, the half-life was 5 days at 20 C, 12 days at 10 C, and 28 days at 40 C. Two aircraft deicing fluids were also tested, and similar degradation rates were observed. This indicates the presence of additives in deicing fluids has little effect on biodegradation of glycols.
- OSTI ID:
- 367470
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9511137--; ISBN 1-880611-03-1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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