PHOTOBACTERIUM-PHOSPHOREUM TEST DATA OF NONIONIC SURFACTANTS

A series of chemical compounds belonging to the non-ionic polyethoxyla ted surfactants family were selected: fatty alcohols, alkyl phenols an d fatty amines. Their toxicity was determined against a biologic test system: luminiscent marine bacteria, Photobacterium phosphoreum. Toxic ity of chemicals was monitored by the decrease in intensity of the lig th emitted by bacteria as a consequence of their contact with surfacta nts. From the results obtained through the above mentioned biological toxicity test, a direct relationship between the hydrophobic chain len gth and the toxicity for a series of linear alcohols has been establis hed. Also, for a series of ethoxylated alcohols, alkyl phenols and fat ty amines, the toxicity of homologous is very dependent of the ethoxyl ation grade, e.g. the greater the HLB value of the homologous, the sma llest its toxicity.