The course of biodegradation of anionic detergents by analyses for carbon,methylene blue active substance and sulfate ion

Tallow alcohol sulfates, ether alcohol sulfates and esters of α-sulfo tallow fatty acids were degraded aerobically by sewage microorganisms in a system in which detergent was the sole source of C. Biodegradation was followed by loss of C and methylene blue active substance (MBAS) and formation of SO ₄ ⁻⁻ . Tallow alcohol sulfates were rapidly and completely degraded; ether alcohol sulfates not quite as readily. Reduction in MBAS was rapid for the α-sulfo esters but loss of C and SO ₄ ⁻⁻ formation was incomplete, possibly because of the intermediate formation of a resistant sulfosuccinate. Sodiump-(1-methylundecyl) benzenesulfonate (LAS) was the reference standard. Presented at the AOCS Meeting, San Francisco, April 1969.