BIODEGRADATION OF THE ANIONIC SURFACTANT SODIUM DODECYL-SULFATE AT LAW TEMPERATURES

We report the first description of biodegradation of the anionic surfa ctant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) by cold-adapted diesel oil-degradin g microorganisms at low temperatures. Sixteen out of the 29 inocula (m ixed microbial cultures) tested were capable of degrading 1000 mg SDS l(-1) at 10 degrees C, and only three out of these 16 inocula were not capable of degrading 2000 mg SDS l(-1). The effect of SDS concentrati on (1000 and 2000 mg SDS l(-1)) and incubation time was investigated w ith six inocula; after 72 h at 10 degrees C the SDS content was below the detection limit. Studies on the effect of temperature showed that the inoculum RM8/11 was capable of fully degrading 2000 mg SDS l(-1) o ver a broad temperature range (5-30 degrees C). Independent of tempera ture. microbial dehydrogenase activity was inhibited at high SDS conce ntrations. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.