First evidences of surfactant biodegradation by marine sponges (Porifera): an experimental study with a linear alkylbenzenesulfonate

Abstract

The main objective of this work was to better appreciate the role of benthic macro-organisms in the biodegradation of detergents in the marine environment. Sponges, which could be highly resistant to pollution and which are highly active filter-feeders, appear as interesting organisms in this topic. An experimental study conducted in aquarium with seawater enriched in a pure linear alkylbenzenesulfonate (LAS), namely 1-(p-Sulfophenyl)nonane, has shown that the primary degradation was 10 times more rapid in the presence of the sponge Spongia officinalis than in the presence of only marine bacteria. The main degradation metabolites, 3-(p-sulfophenyl)propionic acid and p-sulfobenzoic acid were produced in greater amounts in the presence of sponge. The very rapid degradation kinetics observed in this study may be due to the symbiotic microbial community present in S. officinalis. The sponge may also have promoted the activity of marine bacteria by transforming the original molecule in a more available secondary product. This study demonstrates for the first time that benthic macro-organisms can play an important role in the transformation of biodegradable contaminants, such as LAS.