<p>Surfactants are depended upon worldwide as cleaning agents. Their usage in such large quantities means that their waste and the potential for pollution are high. Many studies have been done over the last three decades encompassing treatment, alternatives to non-biodegradable surfactants, and the environmental impact. It has been found that although certain surfactants may not be directly toxic, when their concentrations are high in soil, they can act as agents to release toxic pollutants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The focus of this study is to review recent advances in the toxicology, the environmental fate, and the treatment of selected surfactants. In addition, photolytic and photocatalytic degradation of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate in water is presented. </p>

<p>Surfactants are depended upon worldwide as cleaning agents. Their usage in such large quantities means that their waste and the potential for pollution are high. Many studies have been done over the last three decades encompassing treatment, alternatives to non-biodegradable surfactants, and the environmental impact. It has been found that although certain surfactants may not be directly toxic, when their concentrations are high in soil, they can act as agents to release toxic pollutants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The focus of this study is to review recent advances in the toxicology, the environmental fate, and the treatment of selected surfactants. In addition, photolytic and photocatalytic degradation of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate in water is presented. </p>

Treatment of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate using various photolytic and photocatalytic processes is described. Based on first order rates, it is shown that 5,000 mg/L of H²O² for degradation of a 100 mg/L solution of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate is optimum. Two different photocatalysts, Degussa P25 and Hombikat UV 100 TiO², are used to degrade LAS in slurry batch reactors. The optimum photocatalyst loading for Degussa P25 is higher than UV 100 for treatment of LAS since >20% adsorbs to the surface of the UV 100 photocatalyst. Combination of photocatalysts does not improve degradation rates in batch tests. Combination of Degussa P25 and 600 mg/L H²O² and irradiation with either UV light at 254 or 365 nm does not improve degradation rates over the photocatalytic or photolytic processes individually. Photolysis of LAS with UV light at 254 nm and 600 mg/L H²O² added at different time intervals was not successful and no improvement in the first order rate constant was observed. For optimum results, the hydrogen peroxide was added at the beginning of irradiation.

Treatment of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate using various photolytic and photocatalytic processes is described. Based on first order rates, it is shown that 5,000 mg/L of H²O² for degradation of a 100 mg/L solution of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate is optimum. Two different photocatalysts, Degussa P25 and Hombikat UV 100 TiO², are used to degrade LAS in slurry batch reactors. The optimum photocatalyst loading for Degussa P25 is higher than UV 100 for treatment of LAS since >20% adsorbs to the surface of the UV 100 photocatalyst. Combination of photocatalysts does not improve degradation rates in batch tests. Combination of Degussa P25 and 600 mg/L H²O² and irradiation with either UV light at 254 or 365 nm does not improve degradation rates over the photocatalytic or photolytic processes individually. Photolysis of LAS with UV light at 254 nm and 600 mg/L H²O² added at different time intervals was not successful and no improvement in the first order rate constant was observed. For optimum results, the hydrogen peroxide was added at the beginning of irradiation.