Biodegradation of Anionic Surfactants in River Water

• Published in: Journal of Home Economics of Japan Vol. 52; no. 2; pp. 181 - 187
• Main Authors: TAGAWA, Mieko, GOTOH, Keiko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Japanese
• Published: The Japan Society of Home Economics 2001; 一般社団法人 日本家政学会
• Subjects: anionic surfactants; biodegradation; methylene blue activity; river water die-away test; Yamato River; Yodo River; アニオン界面活性剤; メチレンブルー活性; リバーダイアウェイ試験; 大和川; 淀川; 生分解
• ISSN: 0913-5227; 1882-0352
• DOI: 10.11428/jhej1987.52.181

The rates of biodegradation of anionic surfactants, linear alkylbenzenesulfonate (LAS), alkyl sulfate (AS), alkyl ether sulfate (AES), α-olefinsulfonate (AOS) and alkylcarbonate (Soap), were determined by a river water die-away test. River water was obtained from the basins of the Yodo River and the Yamato River. The biodegradability of the surfactants was evaluated by the methylene blue activity. The biodegradation rate was small for LAS, and large for both AS and Soap. The rate of biodegradation was found to be enhanced in polluted river water at high water temperature. With increasing surfactant concentration, the biodegraded amount of the surfactant increased, although the biodegradation rate decreased.