OXYGEN DEPLETION IN SEA-WATER IN THE PRESENCE OF SURFACTANTS

Sea water samples taken from highly poluted zone of the Marmara Sea; i .e, containing indigenious bacteria were used to demonstrate the compe rative biodegradation degree of surfactants in a natural system. Intro duction of excessive amount of biodegradable surfactants into the syst em, result in oxygen depletion. Therefore, degradation was followed fr om the consumption of oxygen by using polarographic measurements and a lso from evaluation of the surface tension. Results obtained clearly i ndicate that indigenious bacteria can degrade aliphatic chain of sodiu m lauryl sulfate and lauryl alcohol polyglycol ether. It can be conclu ded that there is an equilibrium between the depletion of oxygen and d egradation of surfactants under the experimental conditions.