Ecotoxicity of cationic cellulose polymers to aquatic biota: The influence of charge density

Abstract

Better performances of cellulose-based polymers can be achieved by adjust their architecture including the density of cationic modifications. In this study, the influence of cationic substitution on the ecotoxicity of four quaternized hydroxyethyl cellulose polymers (SK-H, SK-L, SK-M, SK-MH) was studied, using an aquatic biota acute ecotoxicity classification, and rheological and physicochemical characterization. The ecotoxicity characterization was achieved by performing standard ecotoxicity assays with seven key trophic level species: Vibrio fischeri, Raphidocelis subcapitata, Chlorella vulgaris, Daphnia magna, Brachionus calyciflorus, Heterocypris incongruens, and Danio rerio. Median effective concentrations were used to compute hazard concentrations, through the species sensitive distribution curves method. The microalga C. vulgaris and rotifer B. calyciflorus were the most sensitive species to the studied polymers. The SK-H variant was highly toxic to the rotifer. Overall, variants with intermediate levels of cationic charge (SK-M, SK-MH) presented the lowest toxicity. The SK-M variant showed the lowest value of maximum acceptable concentration (0.00354 mg/L), thus being indicated as the least toxic variant. Therefore, the obtained results suggest that industry could direct the development of this type of polymers by tailoring its cationic substitution to moderate levels, in such a way that both functionality and environmental toxicity could be maximized.