Document Type
Thesis
Date of Award
6-30-1965
Degree Name
Master of Science in Chemical Engineering - (M.S.)
Department
Chemical Engineering
First Advisor
John E. McCormick
Second Advisor
George C. Keeffe
Third Advisor
Saul I. Kreps
Abstract
The determining factors in the biodegradation of linear alkylbenzene sulfonates have been investigated using the river die-away technique. Emphasis was placed on finding the correlation between biodegradability and each of the following: surfactant structure, inoculation of basic water medium with activated sludge, and acclimation of bacteria to a given surfactant. It has been shown that the lower the molecular weight of linear alkylate, down to C8, the faster the rate of biodegradation. It was further shown that there is no direct relationship between phenyl position distribution and biodegradability, nor is there any direct correlation between the amount of surfactant remaining at terminal concentration and the time required to reach that concentration. Finally, it was found that inoculation of basic river water with activated sludge accelerated degradation and that biodegradation of surfactants is greatly increased once the bacteria become acclimated to the surfactant.
Recommended Citation
McHugh, Neil M., "Factors affecting the biodegradation of linear alkylbenzene sulfonates in river die-away studies" (1965). Theses. 2715.
https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/theses/2715
