Linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) may occur in sewage sludge that is applied to agricultural soil, in which LAS can be inhibitory to biological activity. As a part of a broader risk assessment of LAS in the terrestrial environment, we tested the short-term effects of aqueous LAS on microbial parameters in a sandy agricultural soil that was incubated for up to 11 d. The assays included 10 mic...

In this work, the degradation of anionic and non-ionic surfactants in agricultural soil amended with sewage sludge is reported. The compounds analysed were: linear alkylbenzene sulphonates (LAS) with a 10-13 carbon alkylic chain, and nonylphenolic compounds (NPE), including nonylphenol (NP) and nonylphenol ethoxylates with one and two ethoxy groups (NP1EO and NP2EO). The degradation studies wer...

A novel whole cell biosensor was constructed for the detection of anionic surfactants in aquatic environments. The analysis was rapid, convenient and did not require organic reagents. In this report, the application of this sensor to river water samples was investigated when applied to environmental samples; other organic substances present in river water may affect the measurement of linear al...

In the course of a search for an alkaline stable protease for industrial use, an alkaline protease (protease BYA) was isolated from an alkalophilic Bacillus sp. Y, and its properties were characterized. Its optimum pH was pH 10.0-12.5, when casein was used as a substrate. In addition to the stability of protease BYA at pH 6.5-13.0, it was also very stable towards various surface-active agents, ...

This investigation into the occurrence, character, and transformation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in treatment wetlands in the western United States shows that (i) the nature of DOM in the source water has a major influence on transformations that occur during treatment, (ii) the climate factors have a secondary effect on transformations, (iii) the wetlands receiving treated wastewater ca...

Assessment of aquatic effects requires the derivation of a predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC). In the framework of the Dutch ‘‘Plan of Action Laundry and Cleaning Products,’’ PNECs were derived for linear alkyl benzene sulfonate (LAS), alcohol ethoxylates (AE), alcohol ethoxylated sulfates (AES), and soap. All stages in an aquatic effects assessment were used: initial (assessment factors ...

The discharge of untreated detergent-bearing waste introduces linear alklcylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) to the aquatic environment. The surfactant persists in some streams and rivers in Nigeria, some is adsorbed to suspended materials and end in the sediment of the receiving water bodies. In this study, bacteria isolated from sediments of some tropical detergent-effluent-polluted streams were test...