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Research Article

ScienceAsia 14 (1988): 209-217 |doi: 10.2306/scienceasia1513-1874.1988.14.209

 

MICROBIAL DEGRADATION OF ANIONIC DETERGENT IN NATURAL WATER

 

PORNSAWAN VISOOTTIVISETH, SIWILAI EKACHOTE AND E. SUCHART UPATHAM

ABSTRACT: Two kinds of anionic detergents, i.e. hard (branched chain alkyl benzene sulphonate, ABS) and soft (linear alkyl benzene sulphonate, LAS), were studied regarding their degradation by microorganisms in Chao Phraya river water. The standard Shake-flask test and methylene blue method, respectively, were used for determining the biodegradability of the surfactant and for assessing the amount of anionic surfactant. ABS was found to be partially degraded (17.9%), but LAS was almost completely degraded (96.8%).

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Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.

Received 7 June 1988