Toxicity of anionic and cationic surfactant to Acinetobacter junii in pure culture

Abstract

Abstract The harmful effects of surfactants to the environment are well known. We were interested in investigating their potential toxicity in a pure culture of Acinetobacter junii, a phosphate (P)-accumulating bacterium. Results showed a high acute toxicity of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HDTMA) against A. junii. The estimated EC50 values of the HDTMA for the inhibition of CFUs in the pure culture of A. junii was 3.27 ± 1.12 × 10−7 mol L−1 and for the inhibition of the P-uptake rates 2.47 ± 0.51 × 10−6 mol L−1. For SDS, estimated EC50 values for the inhibition of CFUs in the pure culture of A. junii was 5.00 ± 2.95 × 10−6 mol L−1 and for the inhibition of the P-uptake rates 3.33 ± 0.96 × 10−4 mol L−1. The obtained EC50 values in the standardised yeast toxicity test using Saccharomyces cerevisiae were 3.03 ± 0.38 × 10−4 and 4.33 ± 0.32 × 10−5 mol L−1 for SDS and HDTMA, respectively. These results emphasized the need to control concentrations of surfactants entering the activated sludge system. The negative effects of these toxicants could greatly decrease populations of P-accumulating bacteria, as well as eukaryotic organisms, inhabiting activated sludge systems, which in turn could result in the decrease of the system efficiency.