Study of microbial degradation of nonionic surfactants in designing sewage purification technologies

Studies of degradation of nonionic surfactants (NISA) in a model purification plant of an original design demonstrated a high rate and depth of degradation processes compared with periodic cultivation of free or immobilized degrading strains. Virtually complete primary degradation (99-99.5%) with destruction of the oxyethyl moiety of the molecule was observed. In addition, NISA molecules were degraded to a greater extent, including considerable degradation of the hydrocarbon radical, partial degradation of aromatic structures in Neonol, and utilization of biologically "unyielding" fractions of commercial NISA preparations, i.e., polyethylene glycol (PEG) and long-chain fractions of polymer homologues.