The biodegradation of the surfactant undecyl sulphate.

1. The metabolism of the odd-numbered carbon chain surfactant, potassium undecyl [35S]sulphate in the rat was investigated. 2. The major route for elimination of radioactivity was the urine, regardless of the route of administration. 3. The surfactant was extensively degraded in vivo to yield propionic acid 3-[35S]sulphate, the major radioactive component in urine. A second urinary metabolite was identified tentatively as pentanoic acid 5-[35S]sulphate. 4. Whole-body autoradiography revealed the liver as the major site of metabolism. 5. The nature of the metabolic products of undecyl sulphate suggest that it is bio-degraded by initial omega-oxidation followed by beta-oxidation.