Question

Define biodegradable and non-biodegradable detergents.?

Answer 1

Detergents:

• Detergents are the potassium or sodium salts of a long chain of fatty acids ending with a sulfonate group.
• They are soluble in hard water.
• Commonly, anionic detergents such as alkyl benzene sulfonates are used for domestic purposes.

Types of detergents:

Biodegradable detergents:

• The detergents that contain straight hydrocarbon chains are called biodegradable detergents.
• These are easily decomposed by microbes and bacteria.
• Example: Sodium lauryl sulfate, etc.

Non-biodegradable detergents:

• The detergents that contain highly branched hydrocarbon chains are called non-biodegradable detergents.
• These are not decomposed by microbes and bacteria.
• Example: Sodium -2-dodecyl benzene sulphonate, etc.