River Die-Away tests of linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) and soap were carried out. At 10 mg El-1 of surfactant in river water, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) due to soap decreased slightly faster than that due to LAS, while no significant difference was observed in the change of particulate organic carbon (POC) of either surfactant. As the result of River Die-Away test of soap at 30 mg El-1, POC level increased in the course of biodegradation of soap (till about day 15 of test period). The increase of POC level was inferred to be due to bacterial floc partially containing unsoluble soap (fatty acid salts). Fatty acids in the course of biodegradation of soap were analyzed by a pre-labelling HPLC method. The extent of biodegradation of fatty acids decreased in the following order :
C12>C10≅C8>C14≅C18 : 2>C18 : 1>C16>C18
LAS was degraded according to Swisher's “Distance Principle” that the longer the alkyl carbon chain length, and the longer the distance between the far end of alkyl chain and the phenyl group, the faster the biodegradability becomes. Optimum temperature for LAS biodegradation was about 25°C. Although soap was degraded at both 10 and 40°C, LAS was not degraded at those temperatures. However, after incubation of river water containing LAS at 20°C, LAS was degraded even at 10°C.
