Anaerobic Biodegradability and Inhibitory Effects of Some Anionic and Cationic Surfactants

• Published in: Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology 2010-09, Vol.85 (3), p.269-273
• Main Authors: Pérez-Armendáriz, Beatriz, Moreno, Yésica Mayett, Monroy-Hermosillo, Oscar, Guyot, Jean Pierre, González, Rosa O
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anaerobic degradation; Anaerobic sludge; Anaerobiosis; Anionic surfactants; Anions - metabolism; Anions - toxicity; Anoxic conditions; Aquatic Pollution; Benzenesulfonates - analysis; Benzenesulfonates - metabolism; Benzenesulfonates - toxicity; Biodegradability; Biodegradation; Biodegradation, Environmental; Bioreactors - microbiology; Cationic surfactant; Cations - metabolism; Cations - toxicity; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Flocculation; Methane; Methane - analysis; Methane - metabolism; Methylamines - metabolism; Methylamines - toxicity; Pollution; Sewage - chemistry; Sludge; Sodium; Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate - analysis; Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate - metabolism; Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate - toxicity; Soil Science & Conservation; Surface-Active Agents - analysis; Surface-Active Agents - metabolism; Surface-Active Agents - toxicity; Surfactants; Toxicology; UASB; Waste Disposal, Fluid; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control
• ISSN: 0007-4861; 1432-0800
• DOI: 10.1007/s00128-010-0096-8

The anaerobic biodegradability and inhibitory effects on the methane production of three different surfactants, two anionic: sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS), and a cationic surfactant: trialkyl-methylammonium chloride (TMAC), were evaluated with two different anaerobic sludges, granular and flocculent. Five different concentrations of the surfactants, 5, 50, 100, 250 and 500 mg/L, were tested. SLS was biodegraded at concentrations of 5, 50 and 100 mg/L with flocculent sludge and at 100 and 250 mg/L with granular sludge. However an inhibitory effect on methane production was observed in both sludges at 500 mg/L. The results indicate that SDBS was not biodegradable under anoxic conditions. TMAC was slightly degraded 50 and 100 mg/L with the flocculent sludge, and from 100 to 500 mg/L with the granular sludge.