Mercury

The relationship between molecular
structure and the bio-degradation of
surface active agent
• The biological degradability of surface active agent depends
mainly on the hydrophobic groups. With the linearity ( 线 性 程
度 ) of hydrophobic groups, the degradability of the
quaternary carbon atom at the end of the chain is
significantly reduced with more hydrophobic groups;
• The properties of the hydrophilic groups also have some
influence on the biological degradability. e.g. LPAS( 直 链 伯 烷
基 硫 酸 盐 ) has higher primary bio-degradation speed than
other anions; short-EO-chain polyoxyethylene ( 聚 氧 乙 烯 )
nonionic surfactants are bio-degraded more easily.
• The increase of the distance between between the sulfo ( 磺
基 ) and the end of the hydrophobic groups can raise the
primary bio-degradability of methyl benzene sulfonates
(distance principle).