ON THE TOXICITY AND BIODEGRADATION OF CATIONIC SURFACTANTS

Three ammonium halide type surfactants were tested under standard labo ratory condition for biodegradability and acute toxicity to Daphnia ma gna and in the Microtox test with the luminescent bacterium Photobacte rium phosphoreum. The tested compounds are dimethyldistearylammonium c hloride (DSDMAC), cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (HTMAB) and cetylbenz yldimethylammonium chloride (HBDMAC). The results indicate DSDMAC is l ess toxic than the other two surfactants and that it biodegrades rapid ly at both lower (2.5 mg/L) and higher (10 mg/L) concentrations.