Primary, secondary screening and evaluation of LAS degrading potential of soil bacteria isolated from Vidya Pratishthan’s college area

Abstract

Inefficiency of use of soap in hard water popularized the use of anionic surfactants namely, branched alkylbenzene sulphonates (BAS) and Linear alkyl benzene sulphonates (LAS) in detergents. The low cost and superior solubility in hard water had made them popular and first choice of many household care-products. However, the disadvantage associated with their use was formation of stable foam over waterbodies which is detrimental for both the aquatic plants and animals. The current study involves primary and secondary screening of LAS degrading organisms and evaluates their potential. The three isolates screened isolate 1 can degrade LAS to the tune of 66% in 5 days, isolate 2 and isolate 3 degrade 72.16% and 68.25% respectively in 4 days.