Assessing the aquatic hazard of some branched and linear nonionic surfactants by biodegradation and toxicity

Journal Article · Fri Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993 · Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620121002· OSTI ID:5810132

Dorn, P B; Salanitro, J P; Evans, S H; Kravetz, L ^[1]

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1. Shell Development Co., Houston, TX (United States). Westhollow Research Center

An aquatic hazard assessment was conducted for branched and linear nonionic surfactants using toxicity and biodegradation measurements. Four nonionic alcohol ethoxylate surfactants with different degrees of branching were evaluated for neat surfactant toxicity, degradation in laboratory sewage treatment units, and aquatic toxicity of treated effluents. Acute testing with neat surfactants showed ranges for EC50s of 1.3 to 11.6 mg/L for Daphnia, 1.6 to 6.1 mg/L for Pimephales promelas (fathead minnow), and 1.5 to 11.4 mg/L for Microtox[reg sign]. Chronic testing of algae showed NOECs of 1 to 10 mg/L and maximum acceptable toxicant concentrations (MATCs) of 0.8 to 14.2 mg/L. Seven-day chronic estimation tests showed MATCs of 0.6 to 41.4 mg/L for Pimephales promelas and 1 to 14 mg/L for Daphnia. Effluents collected from treatment units receiving a 50-mg/L surfactant feed at 25 C showed no acute toxicity to either Daphnia or fathead minnows, with the exception of a unit containing nonylphenol ethoxylate. Chronic effluent toxicity was greatest in effluent from the nonylphenol ethoxylate unit and least in the effluent from the linear alcohol ethoxylate unit. Chronic toxicity of the highly branched C[sub 13] alcohol ethoxylate effluent was greater than that for the linear alcohol ethoxylate unit effluent.

• OSTI ID: 5810132
• Journal Information: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States), Vol. 12:10; ISSN 0730-7268
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALGAE
SENSITIVITY
DAPHNIA
FATHEAD MINNOW
SURFACTANTS
BIODEGRADATION
TOXICITY
CHEMICAL EFFLUENTS
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ARTHROPODS
BRANCHIOPODS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMICAL WASTES
CRUSTACEANS
DECOMPOSITION
FISHES
INVERTEBRATES
NONRADIOACTIVE WASTES
PLANTS
VERTEBRATES
WASTES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology