[Effect of inorganic detergent components on the biodegradation of alkyl benzenesulfonates].

The rate of biodegradation of the alkyl chain of alkylbenzene sulphonates (ABS) carried out of the alkyl chain by pure adapted cultures of Pseudomonas fluorescens and Aspergillus sp. has been examined in the presence of four anorganic test compounds of commercial detergents. The strains were isolated from sewages by elected cultures. It has been established that the sodium perborate gave a completely different effect on the microbial metabolism of ABS than that obtained with polyphosphate, sulphate and silicate. The perborate possesses an inhibitory effect on the growth and the surfactant-degradative ability of the strains. The authors concluded from it that the presence of 20% perborate in the formula of commercial detergents must be kept in mind where environmental problems are concerned.