Question

What are biodegradable and non-biodegradable detergents? Give one example of each.

Answer 1

Detergents that can be degraded by bacteria are called biodegradable detergents. Such detergents have straight hydrocarbon chains. For example: sodium lauryl sulphate

Detergents that cannot be degraded by bacteria are called non-biodegradable detergents. Such detergents have highly-branched hydrocarbon chains. For example: sodium -4- (1, 3, 5, 7- tetra methyl octyl) benzene sulphonate

Answer 2

Detergents having straight chain hydrocarbons are easily degraded (or decomposed) by microorganisms and hence are called biodegradable detergents while detergents containing branched hydrocarbon chains are not easily degraded by the microorganisms find hence are called non-biodegradable detergents. Consequently, non-biodegradable detergents accumulate in rivers and water ways thereby causing severe water pollution. Examples of biodegradable detergents are sodium lauryl sulphate, sodium 4-(-l-dodecyl) benzenesulphonate and sodium 4-(2-dodecyl) benzenesulphonate.

Examples of non-biodegradable detergents is sodium 4-(1, 3,5,7 – tetramethyloctyl) benzene sulphonate.