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Ozonation of Anionic and Non-ionic Surfactants in Aqueous Solutions: Impact on Aquatic Toxicity

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Journal of Surfactants and Detergents

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of ozonation of anionic and non-ionic surfactants on their aquatic toxicity. Toxicity values of various commercially important anionic and non-ionic surfactants have been determined using the luminescent bacterium Vibrio fischeri. Surface tension measurements were made to study the interfacial activity. The behavior depends on the chemical structure. Some intermediate ozonation products were found to be more toxic than the base surfactant and others were found to be less. Surfactants with aromatic rings such as linear alkyl benzene sulfonates, or surfactants with glycosidic groups such as alkylpolyglucosides, exhibit a lower toxicity after ozonation. On the other hand, ether groups present in the fatty-alcohol ethoxylates and ether carboxylic derivative surfactants, and carboxylic acid derivates present in the ether carboxylic derivative surfactants lead to increasing toxicity after ozonation. Surfactants with ether groups probably formed short-chain polyethoxylated compounds and carboxylic acids, which are possibly responsible for the surface-tension decrease that promotes the toxicity increase.

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Abbreviations

APG:

Alkylpolyglucoside

CMC:

Critical micelle concentration

DP:

Average number of glucose units per alkyl radical

E:

Degree of ethoxylation

EC:

Ether carboxylic derivate

FAE:

Fatty-alcohol ethoxylate

LAS:

Linear alkyl benzene sulfonate

PA:

Pro analysis

R:

Alkyl-chain length

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Campus Fuentenueva s/n. 18071, Granada, Spain

    Manuela Lechuga, Alejandro Fernández-Arteaga, Mercedes Fernández-Serrano, Encarnación Jurado, Alejandro Burgos & Francisco Ríos

Authors
  1. Manuela Lechuga
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  2. Alejandro Fernández-Arteaga
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  3. Mercedes Fernández-Serrano
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  4. Encarnación Jurado
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  5. Alejandro Burgos
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  6. Francisco Ríos
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Correspondence to Alejandro Fernández-Arteaga.

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Lechuga, M., Fernández-Arteaga, A., Fernández-Serrano, M. et al. Ozonation of Anionic and Non-ionic Surfactants in Aqueous Solutions: Impact on Aquatic Toxicity. J Surfact Deterg 16, 779–784 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11743-013-1464-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11743-013-1464-2

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