Primary biodegradation of a series of alkyl sulfo-succinates by mixed bacterial culture

A mixed bacterial culture capable of primary biodegradation of sodium alkyl sulfosuccinates R-1-OOC-CH(SO3Na)-CH2-COO-R-2 was obtained from soil microorganisms by enrichment cultivation and adaptation in the presence of mono-n-dodecyl sulfosuccinate. Gram-negative psychrophilic bacteria with proteolytic, lipolytic and ammonifying activities were prevalent in the culture. The process of primary biodegradation of alkyl sulfosuccinates can be described by first-order reaction kinetics. The rate constants for linear esters were ascending in the order C-4 < C-5 < C-5 (45 mu mol/min per g cell protein) and further descending with increasing length of the carbon chain C-6 > C-8 much greater than C-13. Substitution of cyclohexyl for n-hexyl group resulted in fourfold decrease in biodegradation rate. Terminal branching of alkyl chain does not affect the rate of primary biodegradation.