Degradation of Anionic Surfactant by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The anionic surfactants, especially linear alkyl benzene sulphonate (LAS) has been the most important industrially produced surfactant detected in urban sewage. Because of its poor biodegradability, LAS accumulates in the environment. In the present investigation, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, able to grow luxuriantly at LAS concentration of 150 μg/mL, was isolated from the urban sewage by enrichment culture technique. Its ability to degrade LAS was studied over a period of six days along with changes in biomass and pH. The estimation of the residual LAS by methylene blue method showed 98% degradation of LAS. The biologically treated waste water showed its potential to be used as irrigation water.