title: Biokinetics of biodegradation of surfactants under aerobic, anoxic and anaerobic conditions.
abstract: The present investigation aims at estimating the biodegradation coefficients of surfactants. The biodegradabilities of Triton X-100 and Rhamnolipid were tested under aerobic, nitrate reducing, sulphate reducing and anaerobic conditions using a respirometer. The results indicated that in terms of biodegradability, Rhamnolipid is superior to Triton X-100, since it is biodegradable under all conditions, whereas Triton X-100 is partially biodegradable under aerobic conditions and non-biodegradable under anaerobic, nitrate reducing and sulphate reducing conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ont., Canada N6A 5B9.
authors.forename: Prasanna K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Mohan
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nakhla
authors.forename: Ernest K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Yanful
mesh_terms: D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D019149:Bioreactors; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D017830:Octoxynol / Q000378:metabolism*; D010100:Oxygen; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006017:Glycolipids; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; C418382:rhamnolipid; D017830:Octoxynol; D010100:Oxygen