ON THE TOXICITY AND BIODEGRADATION OF CATIONIC SURFACTANTS

Three ammonium halide type surfactants were tested under standard laboratory condition for biodegradability and acute toxicity to Daphnia magna and in the Microtox test with the luminescent bacterium Photobacterium phosphoreum. The tested compounds are dimethyldistearylammonium chloride (DSDMAC), cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (HTMAB) and cetylbenzyldimethylammonium chloride (HBDMAC). The results indicate DSDMAC is less toxic than the other two surfactants and that it biodegrades rapidly at both lower (2.5 mg/L) and higher (10 mg/L) concentrations.