Marine environments anionic surfactants

The environmental behaviour of LAS, as one of the most widely-used xenobiotic organic compounds, has aroused considerable interest and study. As a result, it has been determined that, under certain conditions, LAS compounds are completely biodegradable however, in the marine environment their degradation is known to be slower. The presence of metabolites of the anionic LAS surfactants, the long and short chain SPC derivatives, in the aqueous environment is well known, and as such these degradation intermediates needed to be monitored (and tested for their toxic effects). 

The partition coefficients for different LAS homologues (Table 5.4.2) are higher in the marine environment due to the higher ionic strength that promotes sorption of anionic surfactants [14] and an increase in the partition coefficient with the alkylic chain length has been observed (Table 5.4.2). The evolution of the concentration of the various homologues of LAS in solids in suspension (cf. Fig. 5.4.2) is similar to that found in water and, in the process of adsorption, an increase can be observed in line with the chain length, as commented on previously. 

Quiroga J.M., D. Sales, and A. Gomez-Parra (1989). Experimental evaluation of pollution potential of anionic surfactants in the marine environment. Water Research 23 801-808. 

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