Fate of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate in the environment

Abstract

An extensive monitoring study was conducted to determine the fate of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) during wastewater treatment and in the environment. Results showed that LAS was highly removed during activated sludge (99.3 ± 0.6%), lagoon (98.5 ± 1.8%), oxidation ditch (98.0 ± 4.2%), and rotating biological contact (96.2 ± 6.1%) treatment, with poorer removals observed at trickling filter (77.4 ± 15.5%) facilities. Concentrations of LAS in anaerobically digested sludge (10,462 ± 5170 μg/g) were one to two orders of magnitude greater than those observed for aerobically digested sludge (152 ± 119 μg/g), illustrating that LAS is rapidly degraded during aerobic sludge treatment. Receiving water concentrations of LAS in rivers of low effluent dilution were generally < 50 μg/L. Elevated river sediment concentrations of LAS were observed only below the outfall of trickling filter treatment plants (59.7‐182.1 μg/g). Alkyl chain lengths of LAS averaged 12.0 carbon units in most environmental compartments, with the exception of sludge solids and river sediments, in which an enrichment of longer chain lengths was observed. Measured concentrations of LAS in river waters under critical low flow conditions were in agreement with PG‐GRiDS model predictions [5], thus supporting the validity of the modeling approach.

AIS/CESIO environmental surfactant monitoring programme. Part 1: LAS monitoring study in “de Meern” sewage treatment plant and receiving river “Leidsche Rijn”

“…These values correspond very well with other published data for primary sludge (Bema et al 19989;Giger et al 1989;de Henau et al 1989;McAvoy et al 1993). The 'solids effect is still noticeable in the subsequent sampling day as an LAS concentration of 1020 ug/g was measured.…”

Estimating surface water concentrations of “down-the-drain” chemicals in China using a global model

“…Holt et al, 1995;Holt et al, 1998;Waters and Feijtel, 1995) and in rivers (e.g. McAvoy et al, 1993;Whelan et al, 1999;Fox et al, 2000;Eichhorn et al, 2001;Eichhorn et al, 2002; (Holt et al, 1995). A removal rate for LAS in WWTPs was assumed to be 98% which is appropriate for activated sludge type plants (Holt et al, 1995), the dominant type of treatment technology currently being deployed across China (e.g.…”

Toxicological impact of detergent effluent on juvenile of African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) (Buchell 1822)

“…Detergent surfactants are complex organic chemicals where hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups are joined together in the same molecules (Huang et al, 2000). There are various types of surfactants used in detergents formulations; the linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS)-ionic surfactants is the most widely used (McAvoy et al, 1997). It was introduced as biodegradable alternatives to the non-biodegradable branched-chained alkylbenzene sulfonates (Gledhill, 1974).…”

“…The LAS molecules adsorb to the suspended solid in water bodies and hence end up in sediments along the water course or sludge in treatment plants (Cavalli et al, 2000). The recommended LAS that was claimed by some researcher to biodegrade perfectly (Gledhill, 1974;WHO, 1996 andMcAvoy et al, 1997) have also been reported to poorly degrade in rivers, lakes, ponds and even in soils and this may be toxic to aquatic faunas and floras and can also induce severe damage to vital organs and even haematological, hormonal and enzyme disturbances (Lightowlers, 2004;Ogundiran et al, 2007 andOgundiran et al, 2009). It has also been discovered that detergent surfactant increases microbial populations especially those that are able to use the surfactant as their basic source of carbon or phosphate or both, some of these microorganisms stands as an ectoparasites or endoparasites that causes histological degradation in fish species (Eniola andOlayemi, 2002, andLateef, 2004).…”