Abstract
Surface active agents (SAAs) are a class of compounds, which find various applications in different fields of human activities. Surfactants are generally amphiphilic molecules, which are strongly adsorbed at interfaces between the phases. Surfactants windily used as detergency, emulsion, stabilizing and dispersing agents have led to the discharge of highly contaminated wastewaters in aquatic environment. Once reached in the various compartments of the environment such as rivers, lakes, soils, and sediments, surfactants can undergo aerobic or anaerobic degradation. Concentrations of surfactants in wastewaters, river waters, and sewage waters can range milligrams in maximum cases, while it reaches several grams in sludge, soil and sediments in environments. The environmental facts of SAAs and concentration in surface waters, soils or sediments are reviewed in details. This review provides information on levels of surface-active agents in various environmental samples including soil, sediments, sewage wastewater, river wastewater and aerosols.
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