SELECTIVE AEROBIC DEGRADATION OF LINEAR ALKYLBENZENES BY PURE MICROBIAL CULTURES

Aerobic degradation in the laboratory of C11-C14 linear alkylbenzenes by pure cultures of bacterial strains (Pseudomonas sp) revealed that biodegradation of individual isomers increases when the phenyl group is closer to the end of the alkyl chain. This result contributes to the understanding of the fate of these compounds in the aquatic environment and proves that the similar selective biodegradation observed within the isomeric components in ABS surfactants is not constrained by the presence of the sulphonate group in the molecule as previously suggested.