NOTES 1.

Activated Sludge : Activated sludge is obtained by aeration of sewage, causing growth of the bacteria through metabolism of sewage nutrients. Basically, the anionic surfactants act as food for the bacteria. 2. Screening tests : The purpose of screening tests is to provide unequivocal evidence that the test compound will biodegrade in the environment. 3. Inherent and simulation tests : This next level of testing is for inherent biodegradability. These tests employ a higher concentration of

microorganisms and may last for several months. Compounds passing the test for inherent biodegradability are also tested using simulation methods, such as continuous activated sludge or trickling filter systems, to assess their behavior during wastewater treatment. 4. Sufactants : Surfactants are compounds that lower the surface tension of a liquid, the interfacial tension between two liquids, or that between a liquid and a solid. Surfactants may act as detergents, wetting agents, emulsifiers, foaming agents, and dispersants. 5. Alkyl Aryl : Alkyl aryl condensate-They are cheap to manufacture, very efficient, and the petroleum industry is a starting point for the base raw material.

What to speak?
The most common anionic detergents are alkylbenzene sulfonates. They are basically the sodium salts of sulphonated long chain alcohol or hydrocarbons.

Alkylhydrogen sulphates are formed by the reaction of sulphuric acid with long chain alcohols and subsequently neutralizing them with NaOH. Similarly, alkylbenzene sulphonates are formed by the reaction of alkyl benzene sulphonic acids with an alkali.

This is the typical structure. As said, they have a sulphonte or a sulphate group.

Anionic detergents can be further classified as : Alkyl aryl sulphonates : in this, the hydrocarbon chain is alkyl aryl. Long chain alcohol sulphates : are produced by the sulphation of fatty acids. They are extensively used as laundry detergents. Other groups : there are also some other groups which include sucrose esters, sulphated ethers etc. Alkyl aryl condensate-They are cheap to manufacture, very efficient, and the petroleum industry is a starting point for the base raw material. These represent more than 40% of all the detergents used.

These are some examples of anionic detergents. The first one is a linear alkyl sulphate while the second one is an alkyl benzene sulphonate. The anionic detergents are widely used as laundry detergents, dishwashing liquids and oven cleaners due their low cost and high performance. They constitute about 60% percent of all the commercially used surfactants.

Now, I will hand over the mike to Bhavya who will explain the manufacturing process of these detergents.

Since anionic detergents are used in large amounts, a large portion of them is thus dumped without treatment into the water bodies. They are toxic for the marine diversity, i.e , they affect the aquatic organisms and algae. Eutrophication of fresh water occurs. (is the ecosystem response to the addition of artificial or natural substances, such as nitrates and phosphates, through fertilizers or sewage, to an aquatic system.) Carcinogenic toxins such as benzene are released in the water bodies.

Different tests have been done in the past and are still under research to study their biodegradability. Various simulated treatment processes also exist. One such process is the Activated sludge process. It is the most commonly used biological waste treatment process.