Primary biodegradation of a series of alkyl sulfosuccinates by mixed bacterial culture.

A mixed bacterial culture capable of primary biodegradation of sodium alkyl sulfosuccinates R1-OOC-CH(SO3Na)-CH2-COO-R2 was obtained from soil microorganisms by enrichment cultivation and adaptation in the presence of mono-n-dodecyl sulfosuccinate. Gram-negative psychrophilic bacteria with proteolytic, lipolytic and ammonifying activities were prevalent in the culture. The process of primary biodegradation of alkyl sulfosuccinates can be described by first-order reaction kinetics. The rate constants for linear esters were ascending in the order C4 < C5 < C6 (45 mumol/min per g cell protein) and further descending with increasing length of the carbon chain C6 > C8 >> C13. Substitution of cyclohexyl for n-hexyl group resulted in fourfold decrease in biodegradation rate. Terminal branching of alkyl chain does not affect the rate of primary biodegradation.