TECHNICAL NOTES
Feb 1, 2006

Biodegradability of Surfactants under Aerobic, Anoxic, and Anaerobic Conditions

Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 132, Issue 2

Abstract

The biodegradability of two surfactants, Triton X-100 and Rhamnolipid, was tested under aerobic, nitrate reducing, sulfate reducing, and anaerobic conditions in a respirometer. The results indicated that from a biodegradation standpoint, Rhamnolipid is superior to Triton X-100 since it is biodegradable under all conditions, whereas the Triton X-100 is partially biodegradable under aerobic conditions and nonbiodegradable under anaerobic, nitrate reducing, and sulfate reducing conditions.

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Information

Published In

Go to Journal of Environmental Engineering
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 132Issue 2February 2006
Pages: 279 - 283

History

Received: Feb 11, 2004
Accepted: Jun 2, 2005
Published online: Feb 1, 2006
Published in print: Feb 2006

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Authors

Affiliations

Prasanna K. Mohan
Graduate Student, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Univ. of Western Ontario, London ON, Canada N6A5B9.
George Nakhla [email protected]
Associate Professor, Dept. of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, The Univ. of Western Ontario, London ON, Canada N6A5B9 (corresponding author). E-mail: [email protected]
Ernest K. Yanful
Professor and Chair, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Univ. of Western Ontario, London ON, Canada N6A5B9.

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