Biological effects of solvent extraction chemicals on aquatic organisms

Abstract

AbstractAquatic environments are the main recipient for chemicals lost from solvent extraction plants. Therefore, the toxicity of these chemicals to aquatic organisms must be considered. So far the effects of solvent extraction chemicals on aquatic organisms have been underestimated. The toxicity of some commonly employed solvent extraction chemicals to a green alga, Chlorella emersonii, a fish, Salmo gairdneri, and two cellulose‐degrading bacteria, Cellulomonas sp. and Sporocytophaga myxococcoides, are reported. For most aliphatic amines studied (Primene JM‐T, Amberlite LA‐1, Adogen 283, Alamine 336 and Aliquat 336) inhibition of growth (algae and bacteria) and mortality of fish are shown at nominal concentrations below 1 mg dm−3 (EC50s and LC50s). Other chemicals tested (Adogen 383, TBP, HDEHP, NA SUL AS‐50, LIX 64N, Versatic 10 and 2‐ethylhexanol) are less toxic, having EC50s for inhibition of growth and/or LC50s between 0.3 and 100 mg dm−3. The acute toxicity to fish is shown to be dependent on ambient temperature for all chemicals studied. Solvent extraction chemicals spread into the environment have the potential to produce toxic effects on aquatic organisms. It is therefore recommended that the status of aquatic life in natural waters receiving solvent extraction chemicals is monitored.