Biodegradation of the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate at low temperatures

We report the first description of biodegradation of the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) by cold-adapted diesel oil-degrading microorganisms at low temperatures. Sixteen out of the 29 inocula (mixed microbial cultures) tested were capable of degrading 1000 mg SDSl−1 at 10°C, and only three out of these 16 inocula were not capable of degrading 2000 mg SDSl−1. The effect of SDS concentration (1000 and 2000 mg SDSl−1) and incubation time was investigated with six inocula; after 72 h at 10°C the SDS content was below the detection limit. Studies on the effect of temperature showed that the inoculum RM8/11 was capable of fully degrading 2000 mg SDSl−1 over a broad temperature range (5–30°C). Independent of temperature, microbial dehydrogenase activity was inhibited at high SDS concentrations.