Biodegradation of technical mixtures of oxyethylenated aliphatic alcohols in an aqueous environment

Abstract

A study was conducted of the biodegradability of nonionogenic surfactants of oxyethylenated n-butyl, isobutyl, n-pentyl and isopentyl alcohol type by the modified static test according to ISO 9888. The course of degradation was judged by changes in concentration of individual oligomers, ethylene glycols, carboxylic and dicarboxylic acids. Good biological degradability of tested substrates was found, a "primary" degradability of 75% - 98% in a 10-day interval. Obtained results, in accord with our previous work, proved the dominant proportion of degradative scission in the hydrophile part of surfactant molecule. During biological degradation, no significant cumulation of mono- up to polyethylene glycols appeared neither that of mono- or dicarboxylic acids, and degradation of these components was not the rate-determining degradation factor.