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Biodegradability and Treatability of Alkylphenol Ethoxylates — A Class of Nonionic Surfactants EDWARD S. LASHEN, Senior Microbiologist KEITH A. BOOMAN, Laboratory Head Surfactant Applications Laboratory Rohm and Haas Company Spring House, Pennsylvania INTRODUCTION A serious detergent pollution problem was averted as a result of the detergent industry's switchover to the manufacture of biodegradable surfactants. Linear alkylate sulfonate (LAS), the principle type of anionic surfactant now in widespread use, was found to be much more biodegradable in laboratory and field tests than its predecessor ABS (1, 2, 3,4, 5, 6). Since the switchover from ABS to LAS, evidence reaffirming the extensive degradability of LAS is being documented continuously (1). Now concern exists for the biodegradability and treatability of another major class, the nonionic surfactants derived in part at least from ethylene oxide. Industrial and household nonionic surfactant consumption is considerable (roughly one-fifth of the total). In view of this high usage, the current lack of foaming in our waterways and treatment plants strongly suggests high biodegradability and treatability of nonionics, implying that this class of surfactants does not present a pollution problem. Nevertheless, industry is cooperating with governmental regulatory agencies and universities in continuing research efforts to evaluate the biodegradability of these compounds. The common nonionic surfactants are synthesized from alcohols or alkyl- Ehenols. Ethylene oxide nonionics based on linear primary or secondary alcohols ave been shown to be degradable and treatable (7, 8, 9,10,11). The biodegradability of the ethoxylates of alkylphenols, of proven utility in many cleaning operations, has been studied in depth during the last three years in the laboratories of the Rohm and Haas Company. We have reported high degradability of one type of alkylphenol ethoxylate, the 10-mole ethoxylate of p, t-octylphenol (OPE^o), in activated sludge, river water die-away and septic tank laboratory test systems (10,12,13,14). In a recent field study, Lashen and Lamb (15) have shown this surfactant to be biodegradable and treatable in a full-scale sewage treatment plant. The purpose of this paper is to assemble in a comprehensive manner the results of our studies on the biodegradation of OPEio (p, t-octylphenoxynonaethoxy- ethanol), and to demonstrate the importance of the acclimation processes in evaluations of alkylphenol ethoxylate biodegradability. The OPEi q used in the studies was commercial Triton X-100, manufactured by Rohm and Haas Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The chemical structure of the OPE10 molecule is shown in Figure 1. - 211
Object Description
Purdue Identification Number | ETRIWC196720 |
Title | Biodegradability and treatability of alkylphenol ethoxylates : a class of nonionic detergents |
Author |
Lashen, Edward S. Booman, Keith A. |
Date of Original | 1967 |
Conference Title | Proceedings of the 22nd Industrial Waste Conference |
Conference Front Matter (copy and paste) | http://earchives.lib.purdue.edu/u?/engext,14179 |
Extent of Original | p. 211-228 |
Series |
Engineering extension series no. 129 Engineering bulletin v. 52, no. 3 |
Collection Title | Engineering Technical Reports Collection, Purdue University |
Repository | Purdue University Libraries |
Rights Statement | Digital object copyright Purdue University. All rights reserved. |
Language | eng |
Type (DCMI) | text |
Format | JP2 |
Date Digitized | 2009-05-20 |
Capture Device | Fujitsu fi-5650C |
Capture Details | ScandAll 21 |
Resolution | 300 ppi |
Color Depth | 8 bit |
Description
Title | page 211 |
Collection Title | Engineering Technical Reports Collection, Purdue University |
Repository | Purdue University Libraries |
Rights Statement | Digital object copyright Purdue University. All rights reserved. |
Language | eng |
Type (DCMI) | text |
Format | JP2 |
Capture Device | Fujitsu fi-5650C |
Capture Details | ScandAll 21 |
Transcript | Biodegradability and Treatability of Alkylphenol Ethoxylates — A Class of Nonionic Surfactants EDWARD S. LASHEN, Senior Microbiologist KEITH A. BOOMAN, Laboratory Head Surfactant Applications Laboratory Rohm and Haas Company Spring House, Pennsylvania INTRODUCTION A serious detergent pollution problem was averted as a result of the detergent industry's switchover to the manufacture of biodegradable surfactants. Linear alkylate sulfonate (LAS), the principle type of anionic surfactant now in widespread use, was found to be much more biodegradable in laboratory and field tests than its predecessor ABS (1, 2, 3,4, 5, 6). Since the switchover from ABS to LAS, evidence reaffirming the extensive degradability of LAS is being documented continuously (1). Now concern exists for the biodegradability and treatability of another major class, the nonionic surfactants derived in part at least from ethylene oxide. Industrial and household nonionic surfactant consumption is considerable (roughly one-fifth of the total). In view of this high usage, the current lack of foaming in our waterways and treatment plants strongly suggests high biodegradability and treatability of nonionics, implying that this class of surfactants does not present a pollution problem. Nevertheless, industry is cooperating with governmental regulatory agencies and universities in continuing research efforts to evaluate the biodegradability of these compounds. The common nonionic surfactants are synthesized from alcohols or alkyl- Ehenols. Ethylene oxide nonionics based on linear primary or secondary alcohols ave been shown to be degradable and treatable (7, 8, 9,10,11). The biodegradability of the ethoxylates of alkylphenols, of proven utility in many cleaning operations, has been studied in depth during the last three years in the laboratories of the Rohm and Haas Company. We have reported high degradability of one type of alkylphenol ethoxylate, the 10-mole ethoxylate of p, t-octylphenol (OPE^o), in activated sludge, river water die-away and septic tank laboratory test systems (10,12,13,14). In a recent field study, Lashen and Lamb (15) have shown this surfactant to be biodegradable and treatable in a full-scale sewage treatment plant. The purpose of this paper is to assemble in a comprehensive manner the results of our studies on the biodegradation of OPEio (p, t-octylphenoxynonaethoxy- ethanol), and to demonstrate the importance of the acclimation processes in evaluations of alkylphenol ethoxylate biodegradability. The OPEi q used in the studies was commercial Triton X-100, manufactured by Rohm and Haas Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The chemical structure of the OPE10 molecule is shown in Figure 1. - 211 |
Resolution | 300 ppi |
Color Depth | 8 bit |
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