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Environmental monitoring for linear alkylbenzene sulfonate, alcohol ethoxylate, alcohol ethoxy sulfate, alcohol sulfate, and soap
Author(s) -
Matthijs Eddy,
Holt Martin S.,
Kiewiet Anton,
Rijs Gerard B. J.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.5620181133
Subject(s) - linear alkylbenzene , alcohol , chemistry , sulfate , sewage , sulfonate , pulmonary surfactant , environmental chemistry , fatty alcohol , chromatography , organic chemistry , environmental science , environmental engineering , sodium , biochemistry
An extensive monitoring program was executed jointly by the Dutch Soap Association (NVZ) and the Dutch authorities. Flow proportional samples of raw, settled, and treated sewage from seven representative municipal sewage treatment plants were collected over three consecutive days. The samples were analyzed for detergent surfactants, including linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS), alcohol ethoxylate (AE), alcohol ethoxylated sulfate (AES), alcohol sulfate, (AS) and soap, using state‐of‐the‐art analytical methods. All surfactants were removed by more than 99% during sewage treatment. The concentrations of the surfactants in the treated sewage averaged 39 μg/L for LAS, 6.2 μg/L for AE, 6.5 μg/L for AES, 5.7 μg/L for AS, and 174 μg/L for soap. These measured surfactant concentrations form the basis for the exposure element of the aquatic risk assessment for the surfactants studied. In addition, the field studies indicated that in‐sewer removal can play a significant role in reducing the concentrations of surfactants entering the sewage treatment plant.