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Biodegradation of some sulfur analogues of sodium p ‐( n ‐dodecyl) benzenesulfonates
Author(s) -
Rogers Morris R.,
Kaplan Arthur M.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
journal of the american oil chemists' society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.512
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1558-9331
pISSN - 0003-021X
DOI - 10.1007/bf02636029
Subject(s) - biodegradation , aeration , sulfur , chemistry , sulfonate , alkylation , activated sludge , sodium , linear alkylbenzene , alkyl , organic chemistry , chromatography , sewage treatment , waste management , catalysis , biochemistry , pulmonary surfactant , engineering
The biodegradability of a novel class of thia derivatives of sodium p ‐( n ‐dodecyl) benzenesulfonate and of the corresponding sulfoxides and sulfones has been compared using the Shake Flask, River‐Die‐away, Aeration Chamber Die‐away, and Warburg respirometric techniques. These studies have shown that the incorporation of the sulfur atom into the alkyl side chain of the linear alkylate sulfonate detergent molecule has failed to shorten the time required to biodegrade the linear alkylate sulfonate structure. The 7–9‐thia derivatives, the 7–9‐sulfoxides, and the 7–9‐sulfones are rated as bioresistant compounds when using the Shake Flask and River Die‐away tests, but, when testing these resistant isomers in synthetic sewage using a batch type Aeration Chamber Die‐way procedure, all 11 thia compounds are found to be biodegradable. Some of the isomers do not appear to acclimatize sufficiently rapidly to the bacteria under the conditions of the Shake Flask or River Die‐away tests. Under the more practical treatment conditions when using the Aeration Chamber Die‐away procedure inoculated with activated sludge, a high order of biodegradability is obtained. The probable metabolic pathway and causes for variation in the biodegradation results obtained with these isomers are discussed.