Isolation and Characterization of SDS (Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate) Degrading Organisms from SDS Contaminated Areas

Surfactants are synthetic organic chemicals that are formulated to have cleansing or solubilisation properties with the development of the industrial economy and increase in population density, surfactants have become one of the most widely disseminated xenobiotics to enter the aquatic environment, creating a serious environmental problem. Principal criterion for the ecological behavior of surfactants is their biodegradability [1]. Anionic surfactants are groups of xenobiotic compounds that contain either sulfonated or ester sulfate groups [2] which are widely used ingredients in several industrial products such as detergents and cosmetics [3]. Because of their large consumption worldwide, anionic surfactants have the potential for wide disposal in to aquatic and terrestrial environments [4].