The impact of biodegradable surfactants on water quality

The purpose of this paper is to review some of the recent contributions of the detergent industry to the national effort for cleaner water. Probably the single most important achievement to date has been the industry’s voluntary conversion from the use of alkyl benzene sulfonate (ABS) to linear alkylate sulfonate (LAS) and other biodegradable surfactants. This changeover was completed in mid‐1965 at a cost that has been estimated to exceed $150,000,000. Since LAS was the surfactant of primary interest, the bulk of the pre‐ and postconversion research, in terms of water‐pollution control, has been with that material. This paper concerns itself mainly with the over‐all impact of the conversion to LAS on water quality. Data from pilot and full‐scale sewage‐treatment plants throughout the country are included, which clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of the conversion in terms of significantly lower surfactant residue levels.