Complete degradation of xenobiotic surfactants by consortia of aerobic microorganisms

Linear alkylbenzene sulphonates are primarily attacked via a hydroxylation of the alkyl chain from the methyl group followed by beta-oxidation. The alkyl chain is metabolized by pure cultures to give sulphophenyl carboxylates which accumulate in the medium. In mixed culture, other microorganisms are capable of degrading sulphophenyl carboxylates. Formation of ethylene glycol monosulphates as major products of alkyl ethoxy sulphates demonstrates that the ether bonds are cleaved. The bacteria involved in growing on the alkyl chain are unable to utilize the hydrophilic moiety. This hydrophilic moiety, in turn, is degraded by other microorganisms. The degradation of alkylphenol ethoxylates and highly branched alcohol ethoxylates proceeds by shortening the polyoxyethylene chain leaving the hydrophobic part of the molecule. The biodegradation of linear alcohol ethoxylates and ethoxylated fatty amines is initiated by a central cleavage or omega-oxidation. Subsequent oxidation of the alkyl chains results in the production of polyethylene glycols and secondary ethoxylated amines. Both polar moieties are metabolized by other microorganisms. Degradation of alkyltrimethylammonium salts and alkylamines is initiated by a cleavage of the C-alkyl-N bond. The central fission leads to the formation of alkanals which are readily converted by beta-oxidation. The alkyl chain-utilizing bacteria are not able to degrade the methylamines. The methylamines, in turn, are subject to biodegradation by methylotrophs. The limited metabolic capacities of pure cultures of microorganisms utilizing surfactants point to the requirement of consortia to degrade surfactants completely. Complete degradation of surfactants is accomplished by mixed cultures of microorganisms constructed on the basis of synergistic and commensalistic relationships. However, degradation of a surfactant by one member of a commensalistic consortium may lead to the production of toxic or non-toxic metabolites. Waste water treatment without the build up of such metabolites can be achieved in plants operated with sludge retention times that are suitable for maintaining all microorganisms of the consortium. In contrast, in natural ecosystems the introduction of a surfactant may result in a transient formation of a metabolite.