Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Fish bioassays of linear alkylate sulfonates (LAS) and intermediate biodegradation products

  • Technical
  • Symposium: Biodegradable detergents. Part I conducted by The American Oil Chemists’ Society at its 55tn Annual Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana April 19–22,1964
  • Published:
Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society

Abstract

Linear alkylate sulfonates (LAS) are relatively toxic to fish when tested under static conditions by standard bioassay techniques, the median tolerance limit (TLm) being around 3 mg/liter and 0.6 mg/liter for the C12 and C14 homologs, respectively. However, these materials are so readily degraded by bacterial attack that bluegill fingerlings live with no trouble in effluents from laboratory continuous flow activated sludge units being fed 100 mg/liter or more of either product. No effects on the fish were noticeable in exposures of 96 hr or more, except for slight alterations in the microscopic appearance of the gill tissue. Thus, the removal of the LAS by biodegradation is paralleled by the removal of toxicity and there is no indication that toxic intermediates accumulate during the biodegradation process. This conclusion is substantiated by the observation of a much lower degree of toxicity (TLm 75 mg/liter) for sulfophenylundecanoic acid disodium salt (mixed isomers), synthesized as a model of an intermediate degradation product. Characterization, gas chromatography and methylene blue analysis of this product are also discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Anon., Chem. Eng. News. June 24, 1963, pp. 36–37.

  2. Swisher, R. D., JAOCS40, 648–656 (1963).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission Detergent Subcommittee, J. Am. Water Works Assoc.55, 369–402 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  4. The Soap and Detergent Association, New York, unpublished results (1964), see also Bornmann, G., and A. Loeser, Fette, Seifen, Anstrichmittel65, 818–824 (1963).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Hirsch, E.,Ibid. 65, 814–818 (1963).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Reference 3, pp. 377–379.

  7. Reference 3, pp. 387–388.

  8. Borstlap, C., and P. L. Kooijman, JAOCS40, 78–80 (1963).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Herbert, D. W. M., G. H. J. Elkins, H. T. Mann and J. Hemens, Water Waste Treat.J.6, 394–398 (1957).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Niemitz, W., and W. Pestlin, Städtehygiene13, 231–233 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Swisher, R. D., E. F. Kaelble and S. K. Liu, J. Org. Chem.26, 4066–4069 (1961).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Gray, F. W., J. F. Gerecht and I. J. Krems,Ibid. 20, 511–524 (1955).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Pulver, M. R., Eastman Kodak Co., private communication (1958).

  14. Meyer, V., Ber.27, 510–512 (1894).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Swisher, R. D., J. Water Pollution Control Federation35, 877–892 (1963).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. ABCM-SAC Committee, The Analyst82, 826–827 (1957).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. “Standard Methods for Examination of Water and Wastewater,” 11th ed., American Public Health Association, New York, 1960, pp 246–248.

  18. Hellige Inc., Garden City, N.Y., ABS Testing Outfit No. 367-DO.

  19. Laws, E. Q., and W. Hancock, Nature183, 1473–1474 (1959).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Weatherburn, A. S., JAOCS28, 233–235 (1951).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Critchfield, F. E., and J. B. Johnson, Anal. Chem.26, 1803–1806 (1954).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Reference 17, pp. 457–473.

  23. Freeman, L. A., Sewage Ind. Wastes25, 845–848 (1953).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Reference 17, pp. 91–92.

  25. Swisher, R. D., J. Water Pollution Control Federation35, 1557–1564 (1963).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Reference 17, pp. 399–402.

  27. Schmid, O. J., and H. Mann, Nature192, 675 (1961); Archiv für Fischereiwissenschaft13, 41–51 (1962).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Cairns, J., Jr., and A. Scheier, Purdue Univ., Eng. Bull., Ext. Ser. No.112, 14–28 (1962); Ind. Water Wastes,9, 22–28 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  29. Huddleston, R. L., and R. C. Allred, JAOCS41, 732–735 (1964).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Inorganic Chemicals Division, Research Department, Monsanto Company, St. Louis, Missouri

    R. D. Swisher

  2. Department of Environmental and Sanitary Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri

    J. T. O’rourke & H. D. Tomllnson

Authors
  1. R. D. Swisher
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. T. O’rourke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. H. D. Tomllnson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

About this article

Cite this article

Swisher, R.D., O’rourke, J.T. & Tomllnson, H.D. Fish bioassays of linear alkylate sulfonates (LAS) and intermediate biodegradation products. J Am Oil Chem Soc 41, 746–752 (1964). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02676262

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02676262

Keywords

Search

Navigation