Biodegradation of typical laundry wastewater surfactants - a review

Abstract

The pollution of laundry wastewater is dependent on the origin of the linen, soil degree of the linen and the laundering process. It is caused by dissolved organic and inorganic substances, as well as sedimented and toxic substances. Washing detergents contain various chemicals used in great quantities whose influence on the environment is very important as they are transferred into wastewater treatment plants after use and are, therefore, also present in effluent, where they add their contribution to the total toxicity of the effluent. This review paper summarizes the findings of various literature and presents the biodegradation of most often used surfactants. In order to assess their environmental risks, we need to understand the distribution, behaviour and degradation of surfactants in the different parts of a wastewater treatment plant.