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Biodegradation of anionic surfactants and related molecules

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Biochemistry of microbial degradation

Abstract

The term surfactant is used to describe a large group of structurally-diverse molecules, whose common feature is that they possess (as their name indicates) surface-active properties, i.e. they tend to concentrate at the surfaces and interfaces between aqueous solutions and gases or solids or non-aqueous liquid phases. This property results from the fact that they are amphiphiles, containing polar and non-polar moieties; there is a certain balance of the polar (hydrophilic) and non-polar (hydrophobic) parts of the molecule, which together with their specific chemical identity, gives different surfactants particular properties. As such, surfactants have a broad range of uses as cleaning, wetting and emulsifying agents in a large variety of domestic and industrial situations.

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Abbreviations

CoA :

coenzymeA

MBAS :

methylene-blue active substance

LAS :

linear alkylbenzene sulphonate

SDS :

sodium dodecyl sulphate

SDTES :

sodium dodecyltriethoxy sulphate

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  1. Department of Biochemistry, University of Wales, Cardiff, P.O. Box 903, Cardiff, CF1 1ST, UK

    G. F. White & N. J. Russell

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  1. G. F. White
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  1. Department of Applied Biology, University of Hull, Hull, UK

    Colin Ratledge

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White, G.F., Russell, N.J. (1994). Biodegradation of anionic surfactants and related molecules. In: Ratledge, C. (eds) Biochemistry of microbial degradation. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1687-9_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1687-9_5

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