Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate (SDS) Degradation by Pseudomonas Species

Abstract

Sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), an anionic surfactant widely used in cleaning and cosmetic products, poses significant environmental risks when untreated effluents are discharged into terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. In this study, a potential bacterial isolate identified as Pseudomonas sp. FD-2aii, which could grow in the presence of SDS, was successfully isolated from industrial wastewater. Bacteria were used in the SDS degradation study based on their ability to utilise SDS as the sole carbon source. Isolate FD-2aii showed growth after incubating at 30 °C with shaking at 150 rpm for 24 h. The residual SDS concentration and percentage of SDS degradation in the bacterial cultures were quantified using a methylene blue active substances (MBAS) assay. This study focused on the reduction in SDS concentration over a ten-day period and provided a clear indicator of the degradation efficacy of isolate FD-2aii.