The individual removals of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS), branched alkylbenzene sulfonate (ABS), alpha olefin sulfonate (AOS) and sulfate type surfactants in sewage treatment plants have been examined for one year. This was accomplished by infra-red spectroscopic analysis of anionic surfactants in raw municipal sewage and effluent from sewage treatment plants.
The individual removals of anionic surfactants in sewage treatment plant were ca. 85%, 35%, and 100% for LAS, ABS, and AOS and sulfate-type surfactants, respectively. Then, the removals of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and soluble total organic carbon (TOC) were 90 and 68% respectively.