Metabolism of Some Anionic Tallow-based Detergents by Sewage Microorganisms |
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Authors: | Theone C. Cordon, Elmer W. Maurer, M. V. Nu ez-Ponzoa, A. J. Stirton |
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Affiliation: | Theone C. Cordon, Elmer W. Maurer, M. V. Nuñez-Ponzoa, and A. J. Stirton |
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Abstract: | A method in which the test detergent was the sole source of carbon was used to study the metabolism of several tallow-based detergents. These were tallow alcohol sulfates, long-chain ether alcohol sulfates, and esters of alpha-sulfo fatty acids. Sodium p-(1-methylundecyl)benzenesulfonate (LAS) was used as a reference material. The alcohol sulfates were the most rapidly and completely metabolized (96 to 99%), and one ether alcohol sulfate was 94% degraded. The other compounds were metabolized to the extent of 61 to 87%; LAS was 80% degraded. Except for the alcohol sulfates, loss of methylene blue activity (MBAS) occurred long before the chemical oxygen demand (COD) values had reached a minimum; with the alcohol sulfates, MBAS and COD decreased simultaneously. |
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