Biodegradability of Surfactants under Aerobic, Anoxic, and Anaerobic Conditions

The biodegradability of two surfactants, Triton X-100 and Rhamnolipid, was tested under aerobic, nitrate reducing, sulfate reducing, and anaerobic conditions in a respirometer. The results indicated that from a biodegradation standpoint, Rhamnolipid is superior to Triton X-100 since it is biodegradable under all conditions, whereas the Triton X-100 is partially biodegradable under aerobic conditions and nonbiodegradable under anaerobic, nitrate reducing, and sulfate reducing conditions.