Biodegradation of Alcohol Ethoxylates by Bacterial Consortium from Industrial Wastewater

Industrial waste water, can contain pollutions such as inorganic water-insoluble substances (in particular sewage from electroplating). In nature, the microorganisms play a special role in maintaining life on earth. The decomposition of organic compounds into simple minerals is the main link in the circulation of biogenic elements, especially carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur and other. The aim of the study was to evaluate the biodegradability of a model nonionic surfactant and identification of metabolites generated in the process of biodegradation using microbial consortium originating from electroplating wastewater. Tested model nonionic surfactant C12E10 is a mixture of polydisperse homologues of C12Ex, C14Ex and C16Ex series. Alcohol ethoxylates were isolated by liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) using chloroform. Aliquot of the extract was evaporated and reconstituted in the mobile phase for further LC-MS analysis.