Biodegradability of Surfactants

Chemical companies manufacture a wide variety of formulations of surfactants for industrial and domestic use. Detergents, paints, inks, adhesives, cosmetics, dyes, weedkillers, insecticides and ice cream are familiar examples. In addition, there are many formulations of surfactants used by manufacturing industry as essential processing aids; for examples, the paper industry uses defoamers, dispersing aids and release agents; the engineering industry uses anticorrosive treatments and metal-working lubricants. The widespread use of surfactants and their release into the environment has resumed in an upsurge of interest in the biodegradability of these compounds. This volume, written by a team of industrial and academic authors, provides an overview of the science and technology of the subject. It is directed at surfactant chemists, analytical chemists and environmental chemists in the industrial and academic sectors.