EFFECT OF BIODEGRADABLE DETERGENTS ON WATER QUALITY

Abstract

This research was conducted to study the chemical and biochemical contribution by the addition of biodegradable detergents when used in laundry processes which are discharged as contaminants to domestic wastewater. Three types of commercial detergents were selected (A, B, C) with different specifications in terms of biodegradability in which laboratory analyses were developed with water from the washing process to study representative parameters such as DBO5, DBO21, DQO, phosphates, pH, salinity, dissolved solids, and surfactants. The results indicated that in the use of non-biodegradable detergents there was a decisive increase in the concentration of surfactants, conductivity, phosphates and dissolved solids in wash water compared to biodegradable, while changes were found little variables in the other chemical parameters. It could also be considered that only two detergents obtained the percentage of biodegradability according to the proportion given by the ratio DQO/DBO21 and DBO5/DQO. The highest concentrations of contaminants reflect the non-biodegradable detergent, which also leaves a concern for the content of phosphates and high concentrations of surfactants, in addition to being the highest commercial consumption.