کد مقاله | کد نشریه | سال انتشار | مقاله انگلیسی | نسخه تمام متن |
---|---|---|---|---|
5746334 | 1618800 | 2017 | 8 صفحه PDF | دانلود رایگان |
- Amine-oxides-based surfactants are completely biodegradable in aerobic conditions.
- Differences in the biodegradability are due to their structural differences.
- Biodegradability is lower due to the presence of an amide group in the alkyl chain.
- Initial surfactant concentration had a positive influence on the biodegradation.
- Biodegradability in acid conditions is slower and in some cases lower.
The present study was designed to provide information regarding the effect of the molecular structure of amphoteric amine-oxide-based surfactants and the initial surfactant concentration on their ultimate biodegradation. Moreover, given this parameter's pH-dependence, the effect of pH was also investigated. Three amine-oxide-based surfactants with structural differences in their hydrophobic alkyl chain were tested: Lauramine oxide (AO-R12), Myristamine oxide (AO-R14) and Cocamidopropylamine oxide (AO-Cocoamido). We studied the ultimate biodegradation using the Modified OECD Screening Test at initial surfactant concentrations ranged from 5 to 75 mg Lâ1 and at pH levels from 5 to 7.4. The results demonstrate that at pH 7.4, amine-oxide-based surfactants are readily biodegradable. In this study, we concluded that Ï-oxidation can be assumed to be the main biodegradation pathway of amine-oxides and that differences in the biodegradability between them can be explained by the presence of an amide group in the alkyl chain of AO-Cocoamido; the CN fission of the amide group slows down their mineralization process. In addition, the increase in the concentration of the surfactant from 5 to 75 mg Lâ1 resulted in an increase in the final biodegradation of AO-R12 and AO-R14. However, in the case of AO-Cocoamido, a clear relationship between the concentration and biodegradation cannot be stated. Conversely, the biodegradability of AO-R12 and AO-R14 was considerably lower in an acid condition than at a pH of 7.4, whereas AO-Cocoamido reached similar percentages in acid conditions and at a neutral pH. However, microorganisms required more time to acclimate.
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Journal: Chemosphere - Volume 171, March 2017, Pages 324-331