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.

Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology Faculty of Chemical Technology Slovak University of Technology Bratislava Slovakia

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