Study of microbial degradation of nonionic surface-active agents in designing technologies for purifying waste water
Panchenko, L.V.; Turkovskaia, O.V.
Prikladnaia Biokhimiia i Mikrobiologiia 36(2): 189-194
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 0555-1099 PMID: 10780007 Document Number: 523832
Studies of degradation of non-ionic surfactants (NISA) in a model purification plant of an original design demonstrated an high rate and depth of degradation processes compared with periodic cultivation of free or immobilized degrading strains. A virtually complete primary degradation (99-99.5%), with destruction of the oxyethyl moiety of the molecule, was observed. In addition, NISA molecules were degraded to a greater extent, including considerable degradation of the hydrocarbon radical, partial degradation of aromatic structures in Neonol, and utilization of biologically "unyielding" fractions of commercial NISA preparations: polyethylene glycol (PEG) and long-chain fractions of polymer homologues.