Question

What are Biodegradable and Non-Biodegradable Detergents? Give one example of each class.

Answer 1

Biodegradable Detergents

• The term "biodegradable detergent" refers to detergents with a straight hydrocarbon chain.
• Unbranched chains can biodegrade more easily. So, pollution is prevented.

An example of biodegradable detergent

• Sodium lauryl sulfate is an example of a biodegradable detergent.

Nonbiodegradable detergents

• Non-biodegradable detergents are described as those with a branched hydrocarbon chain.
• These are classified as non-biodegradable because microbes cannot degrade them.
• These are one of the pollution sources.

Example of nonbiodegradable detergent

• Non-biodegradable substances include cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide.
• The structure of cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide is as follows:-