Dodecylbenzenesulfonate Research Articles

The different adsorption-degradation behaviors of SARS-CoV-2 by bioactive chemicals in wastewater: The suppression kinetics and their implications for wastewater-based epidemiology

Wastewater-Based Epidemiology (WBE) is widely used to monitor the progression of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. While there is a clear correlation between the number of COVID patients in a sewershed and the viral load in the wastewater, there is notable variability across different treatment plants. In particular, some facilities consistently exhibit higher viral content per diagnosed patient, implying a potential underestimation of the number of COVID patients, while others show a low viral load per diagnosed case, indicating potential attenuation of genetic material from the sewershed. In this study, we investigated the impact of nonylphenol ethoxylate (NPHE), linear alkylbenzene sulfonic acid (LABS), bisoctyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (BDAC), and didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC), the surfactants that have been commonly used as detergents, emulsifiers, wetting agents on the stability of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater. The results showed multiple and dynamic mechanisms, including degradation and desorption, can occur simultaneously during the interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and different chemicals depending on the physicochemical properties of each chemical. Through the elucidation of the dynamic interactions, the findings from this study could help the state health organizations and scientific community to optimize the SARS-CoV-2 wastewater-based epidemiology strategies.

Precipitation and Flotation Preconcentration of Neodymium, Erbium, and Thulium Ions by Alkylbenzenesulfonic Acid

Precipitation and Flotation Preconcentration of Neodymium, Erbium, and Thulium Ions by Alkylbenzenesulfonic Acid

Water-Based Bi2S3 Nano-Inks Obtained with Surfactant-Assisted Liquid Phase Exfoliation and Their Direct Processing into Thin Films

Bi2S3 has gained considerable attention as a semiconductor for its versatile functional properties, finding application across various fields, and liquid phase exfoliation (LPE) serves as a straightforward method to produce it in nano-form. Till now, the commonly used solvent for LPE has been N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone, which is expensive, toxic and has a high boiling point. These limitations drive the search for more sustainable alternatives, with water being a promising option. Nonetheless, surfactants are necessary for LPE in water due to the hydrophobic nature of Bi2S3, and organic molecules with amphoteric characteristics are identified as suitable surfactants. However, systematic studies on the use of ionic surfactants in the LPE of Bi2S3 have remained scarce until now. In this work, we used sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) and sodium hexadecyl sulfonate (SHS) as representative species and we present a comprehensive investigation into their effects on the LPE of Bi2S3. Through characterizations of the resulting products, we find that all surfactants effectively exfoliate Bi2S3 into few-layer species. Notably, SDBS demonstrates superior stabilization of the 2D layers compared to the other surfactants, while SHS becomes the most promising surfactant for obtaining products with high yield. Moreover, the resulting nano-inks are used for fabricating films using spray-coating, reaching a fine tuning of band gap by controlling the number of cycles, and paving the way for the utilization of 2D Bi2S3 in optoelectronic devices.

Occurrence, seasonal variations, and fate of household and personal care chemicals in a wastewater treatment plant with Bacillus bioreactor process

Household and personal care chemicals (HPCCs) constitute a significant component of everyday products, with their global usage on the rise. HPCCs are eventually discharged into municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). However, the behaviors of HPCCs inside the Bacillus Bioreactor (BBR) process, including their prevalence, fate, and elimination mechanisms, remain underexplored. Addressing this gap, our study delves into samples collected from a BBR process at a significant WWTP in the northeast of China. Our results spotlight the dominance of linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LASs) in the influent with concentrations ranging between 238 and 789 μg/L, much higher than the other HPCC concentrations, and remained dominant in the subsequent treatment units. After treatment using the BBR process, the concentrations of HPCCs in the effluent were diminished. Examination of different treatment units underscores the grit chamber removed over 60% of higher-concentration HPCCs, while the performance of the (RBC) tank needs to be improved. Except for the ultraviolet radiation (UV)-filters, seasonal variations exert minimal impact on the concentrations and removal efficiencies of other HPCCs in the BBR process. According to the mass balance analysis, the important mechanisms for HPCC removal were biodegradation and sludge adsorption. Also, the octocrylene (OCT) concerns raised by the environmental risk assessment of the HPCCs residuals in the final effluent, indicate a moderate risk to the surrounding aquatic environment (0.1 < RQ < 1), whereas other HPCCs have a lower risk level (RQ < 0.1). Overall, the research offers new perspectives on the fate and elimination mechanisms of HPCCs throughout the BBR process.

Sol–gel-stabilized CO2 foam for enhanced in-situ carbonation in foamed fly ash backfill materials

AbstractA novel highly stable aqueous foam was synthesized using CO2, sodium silicate (SS) and anionic surfactant of sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate. The influence of CO2 foam on the mechanical properties and its underlying mechanisms of foamed backfill material was investigated. The experimental results revealed that the addition of CO2 and SS effectively reduced the drainage of the foam while strengthening the liquid film of the Plateau borders, which stabilizes the foam. The excellent stability is attributable to the gel network developed after SS exposed to CO2, that adhere to the foam surface. Furthermore, due to the interaction between encapsulated CO2 and hydration products, micro CaCO3 formed and filled the pore wall; thus, precast foam forms robust pore structures in the hardened foamed backfill.

A study on using a binder-free TiO2 paste with sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate addition to improve the performance of low-temperature DSSCs

The utilization of binder-free TiO2 paste allows for the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) TiO2 electrode fabrication at low temperatures, thus making it a potential material for flexible solar cell devices. However, the physical robustness of formed electrodes using TiO2 paste at low temperatures remains challenging, including issues such as cracking due to film stress and challenges in adjusting the viscosity of the TiO2 paste. In this study, we enhanced the binder-free TiO2 paste performance by incorporating sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) as an additive for TiO2 electrode precursor solution. It demonstrated that SDBS additives help to relieve internal stress and ultimately enhance the physical and structural characteristics of the films by improving the viscosity in the TiO2 paste and promoting the dispersed pinholes within the TiO2 films. Furthermore, implementing TiO2 paste with varying ratios of SDBS has enabled the fabrication of DSSCs with the highest achieved power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 4.53%, representing an enhancement of nearly 15% compared to TiO2 paste without SDBS. This research presents a practical and effective approach for preparing highly efficient binder-free TiO2 paste.

Theoretical study on the influence of three different surfactants on the binding of laccase with bisphenol A

Laccase catalyzes the formation of phenoxyl radicals as an intermediate in Bisphenol A (BPA) degradation, and certain surfactants can affect the effectiveness of laccase in removing BPA from various effluents, yet the specific molecular details remain unclear. In this study, based on laccase and BPA complex, three surfactants, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS), and TritonX-100 (TX-100), were introduced to construct four systems. We applied MD simulation along with MM-PBSA method to investigate the effects of different surfactants on the binding of laccase with BPA. During the MD simulations, these three surfactants enveloped the enzyme surface to varying degrees, causing the solvent to separate from parts of the laccase surface. The addition of CTAB and SDBS suppressed BPA degradation mainly by influencing the polar solvation free energy and van der Waals (vdW) interactions between laccase and BPA. In contrast, TX-100 promoted the degradation of BPA by reducing polar solvation free energy. This explains why in the laccase-BPA complex system the addition of a certain concentration of TX-100 resulted in a higher degradation rate compared to CTAB or SDBS. Our work clarifies the molecular mechanisms of the interaction between laccase and BPA under the influence of CTAB, SDBS, and TX-100 surfactants, and provides some guidance for laccase degradation of BPA.

Soil conditioning of clay based on interface adhesion mechanism: Microscopic simulation and laboratory experiment

Clogging frequently occurs in the cutter head, excavation chamber or screw conveyor when an earth pressure balance (EPB) shield machine is tunneling in soft or silty clay ground with high clay mineral content. In this paper, montmorillonite, kaolinite, and illite were selected as research objects, and molecular dynamics simulation and laboratory experiment were adopted. At the microscopic scale, dynamic contact behavior and interfacial mechanical behavior of the interface between clay minerals and water/surfactant solution was simulated and the interfacial adhesion and conditioning mechanism between clay minerals and water/surfactant solution was revealed. Thus, sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate surfactant was selected as the main composition of the soil conditioner. Then, the adhesion stress before and after soil conditioning and the contact angles between clay minerals and water/surfactant solution were tested and analyzed at the macroscopic scale. The result shows that the contact angle between droplet and clay mineral surface is an important parameter to characterize soil adhesion. The simulation rules of the microscopic contact angle are consistent with the experiment results. Furthermore, the adsorption energy between microscopic substances is dominated by electrostatic force, which can reflect the adhesion stress between macroscopic substances. Soil adhesion stress can be effectively decreased by adding the surfactant to the soil conditioner.

A novel membrane-aerated biofilm reactor using flexible and adjustable plate membrane modules: Treatment of wastewater containing anionic surfactants

Membrane-aerated biofilm reactors (MABRs) are a promising biofilm technology for wastewater treatment; however, achieving high pollutant removal in MABR systems with a low specific membrane surface area, low air-based aeration pressure and flexible aeration control remains a substantial challenge. In this study, a flexible and adjustable plate membrane module was developed and applied in an air-based plate MABR (PMABR) for treating anionic surfactant wastewater. The plate membrane module achieved high oxygen mass transfer under a low air-based membrane aeration pressure. When the influent linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) load was 0.559±0.010 kg/m3·d and a gradient-pressure membrane aeration scheme of (8,7,6) kPa was adopted, the LAS removal rate reached 99.2±0.1%, and the LAS removal load per unit membrane area reached 14.08±0.25 g/m2·d. The bacteria participating in the degradation of LAS were mainly Parvibaculum, Pseudomonas, Desulfovibrio, Flavobacterium and Holophagaceae. The dominant microbial communities of different biofilms in the PMABR played an important role in ω-oxidation, β-oxidation, benzene ring breaking and sulfonic acid group shedding in the degradation of LAS. The developed plate membrane module and PMABR provide a clean, energy-saving and flexible technical solution for MABR applications in wastewater treatment.

Mixed surfactant assisted synthesis of single-crystal Ni2P hollow spheres with excellent adsorption performance

The single-crystal Ni2P hollow spheres have been synthesized via a solvothermal route in presence of mixed surfactant. It is showed that solvent played a significant role for the synthesis of Ni2P. Furthermore, the structure of hollow spheres would be obtained only using the mixtures of cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) which act as soft template rather than single CTAB or pure SDBS. Finally, it turned out that the single-crystal Ni2P hollow spheres exhibit excellent adsorption activity for malachite green (MG) organic dyes.

Glutamate, glycine, and especially the secretions of Ruditapes phillipinarum induce efficient foraging by juvenile Rapa whelks

Chemical signals are known to influence interactions within and among species of aquatic organisms, including gastropods. However, despite the indispensable roles of chemical signals in species interactions, little is known about their effectiveness, especially in gastropods. The rapa whelk Rapana venosa (Valenciennes, 1846) is an ecologically and economically important gastropod, but it has also become a global invasive species. Currently, bottlenecks exist in the breeding of R. venosa related to foraging behaviour and efficiency in juveniles, while significant problems also exist in controlling invasive populations of the gastropod. Here, we aimed to identify chemical signaling molecules that could effectively improve their foraging behaviour and efficiency and potentially solve the bottlenecks in aquaculture production and control the invasiveness of R. venosa. The foraging behaviour of R. venosa during the search phase was evaluated in response to various signaling molecules as to activity time, motion path, and successful perception rate, and a standard scoring metric was proposed. The results showed that bivalve (Ruditapes philippinarum) secretion and glutamic acid and glycine, could effectively induce foraging behaviour in R. venosa. In contrast, 4-dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid and dodecyl sulfate, did not induce significant foraging behaviour. The induced foraging behaviour by a single amino acid was less effective than that of the entire bivalve secretion. These findings could be helpful in improving breeding efficiency, efficient trapping, and controlling invasive populations of aquatic gastropods.

Enhanced Stability, Superior Anti-Corrosive, and Tribological Performance of Al2O3 Water-based Nanofluid Lubricants with Tannic Acid and Carboxymethyl Cellulose over SDBS as Surfactant

In this research work, the stability, tribological, and corrosion properties of a water-based Al2O3 nanofluid (0.5 wt%) formulated with tannin acid (TA) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as dispersants or surfactants were investigated. For comparative purposes, sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) was also incorporated. The stability of the nanofluid was assessed through zeta potential measurements and photo-capturing, revealing the effectiveness of TA and CMC in preventing nanoparticle agglomeration. Tribological properties were examined using a pin-on-disk apparatus, highlighting the tribofilm of Al2O3 that enhanced lubricating properties of the nanofluid by the SEM, resulting in reduced friction and wear of the contacting surfaces. Sample with the addition of both TA and CMC exhibited the best tribological performance, with a ~ 20% reduction in the friction coefficient and a 59% improvement in wear rate compared to neat nanofluid without TA and CMC. Additionally, the corrosion resistance of the nanofluids were evaluated via weight loss and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The nanofluid sample containing both TA and CMC exhibited the lowest corrosion rate, with 97.6% improvement compared to sample without them. This study provides valuable insights into the potential applications of TA and CMC-based Al2O3 nanofluids as effective and environmentally friendly solutions for coolant or lubrication in cutting processes.

Adsorption of single and mixed surfactants consisting of cocoamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) onto zinc surface

Abstract Aqueous solutions of surfactants exhibit remarkable differences in their adsorption properties on metal surfaces. This study evaluates the adsorption of surfactant mixtures on zinc metal surfaces. The adsorption of single surfactants cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) and sodium dodecyl benzenesulfonate (SDBS) and their mixtures from aqueous solution at mole fractions of 0.00, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00 on zinc powder at 25 °C was studied. The surface tension of the single and CAPB/SDBS surfactant mixtures was measured in the presence and absence of 2 % zinc powder to determine the adsorption isotherms. The depletion method was employed to carry out the adsorption investigation. The amount of the surfactant adsorbed was also calculated from the shaded area between the surface tension versus concentration curves of these surfactants in the presence and absence of 2 % zinc powder. The highest adsorbed amounts were found to increase with the SDBS content. Furthermore, scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of zinc sheets in solutions containing single or mixed CAPB/SDBS surfactants were taken in the presence and absence of 0.05 M HCl. The micrographs indicated that the CAPB-SDBS surfactant layers formed by precipitation can protect zinc metal from acid corrosion.

New insights into interaction between oil and solid during hydrothermal treatment of oily sludge

Hydrothermal treatment (HT) can effectively dehydrate and reduce oily sludge (OS) volume, but the resulting hydrothermal oily sludge (HOS) presents greater challenges for washing than the initial oily sludge (IOS). This study examines the effects of HT on OS by analyzing changes in water, oil, and solid. Results indicate that HT considerably decreases the water content in OS while increasing resin and asphaltenes contents. In addition, condensation, side-chain scission, and oxidation reactions occur during the HT process, resulting in coking, agglomeration, and an increase in oxygen-containing groups. This increase, further confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), enhances the interaction between oil and solids. Calcite, the most prevalent solid-phase component, may form a calcium bridge with the oxygen-containing groups. Moreover, HT reduces the solid particle size, thereby increasing the oil–solid contact area. Interestingly, the process of deasphalting diminishes the interaction between oil and solids, facilitating sludge washing. After washing, the residual oil content in HOS is reduced to less than 0.34%. This study elucidates why HOS is challenging to separate from oil and solids and introduces a novel method that combines dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid (DBSA)-assisted heptane deasphalting with conventional washing techniques. This method shows promise for applications in OS affected by weathering processes.

Dissolved oxygen dependence of Microbe-Derived dissolved organic nitrogen dynamics during membrane biofilm-based linear alkylbenzene sulfonate mineralization

Oxygen-based membrane biofilm reactor (O2-MBfR) can achieve bubble-free efficient linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) mineralization. However, effluent microbially derived dissolved organic nitrogen (mDON) reduces recycled water quality and induces water eutrophication. How dissolved oxygen (DO) impacts the dynamics of mDON during LAS biodegradation is unknown. Here, we explored the fate of mDON releasing, molecular characteristics and formation metabolisms in the O2-MBfR responding to DO dynamics using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry and metagenomic analyses. Results showed that DO presents a negative impact (λ = -0.242, P < 0.001) on mDON production, but can positively influence mDON reduction through influencing total organic nitrogen (TDN) removal. DO of 0.3 mg/L led to the lowest concentration of mDON with the least number of organic molecular formulas and high proportion of stable N2– and N3-containing organics. Much lower (0.0 mg/L) or higher (0.6 mg/L) DO concentrations favored dissimilatory-based ammonia formation and assimilatory nitrogen fixation that enhancing mDON formation. Firmocutes were the dominant bacteria that contributing to mDON formation. TDN (λ = 0.844, P < 0.001) and pH (λ = 0.248, P < 0.01) directly affected the effluent mDON concentration. The relatively low effluent mDON under anoxic condition suggested that DO controlling can be an effective strategy to minimize bioavailable mDON discharges in the O2-MBfR, which showed great implication potential for high-quality reclaimed water production and eutrophication control.

Study of the Effect of the Surfactant Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate (LAS) on the Coagulation of Aged Microplastic

Objective: Evaluate the effect of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) surfactant on the coagulation of aged microplastic. Theoretical Framework: Chemical coagulation is one of the steps adopted in water treatment that can help remove microplastics. During coagulation, suspended particles agglomerate, increasing the efficiency of removing these particles in the sedimentation stage. However, when coagulation occurs in the presence of surfactants, evidence points to deficits in removal capacity. Method: Using Jar Test tests, the optimal parameters for microplastic removal were determined with aluminum sulfate as a coagulating agent in the presence and absence of the surfactant linear alkyl benzene sulfonate (LAS). The LAS concentrations studied were in the range of 20 mg/L to 300 mg/L. Microplastic removal efficiency was evaluated by measuring turbidity. Results and Discussions: The combination of pH and coagulant concentration values that best suited the system were 5.0 and 4.25 mg/L, respectively. Due to the addition of surfactants, a decrease in removal efficiency was observed, with an average value ranging from 94.79% to 76.50% due to the interaction of polyethylene spheres with the surfactant. Research Implications: As explained, due to the coexistence of microplastics and surfactants in the aqueous environment, studies that describe chemical coagulation under these conditions have great value for optimizing treatment systems and technologies. Research Originality/Value: The use of aged microplastics aims to approximate their natural occurrence.

Preparation of polyaniline conductive membranes through immersion of dopant solution for dye/salt separation

The preparation of conductive loose nanofiltration (NF) membranes for effective separation of dye/salt wastewater mixtures remains a great challenge. In the current study, a novel method of immersing the polyaniline (PANI) membrane in some organic salt solutions to dope PANI membrane was employed to prepare conductive PANI loose NF membranes. Three dopants with different molecular weight, poly (sodium 4-styrene sulfonate) (PSS), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS), were chosen to prepare the doping solutions under neutral and acidic (pH = 0.5 in HCl) conditions. The neutrally doped PANI membranes all had lower pore size distribution, lower Zeta potential, and higher conductivity compared with the undoped PANI membrane; and these properties were further enhanced for the membranes doped under acidic condition. The PANI membrane doped by acidic PSS solution (PANI-PSS-HCl membrane) had a pore size of 1.7 nm and a pure water flux of 44.7 L·m−2·h−1, and exhibited a rejection of over 99.9 % for eriochrome black T, acid fuchsin, congo red, and sunset yellow in the dye solutions, whereas less than 5 % for NaCl solution, which was suitable for dye/salt separation due to the large molecular size of PSS. When PANI-PSS-HCl membrane was used as the cathode, the membrane exhibited excellent anti-fouling performance with increased external voltage due to enhancement of electrostatic repulsion force between the anionic dyes and the surface of the conductive membrane. This work provides a simple and reliable method to prepare conductive loose NF membranes for effective separation of dye/salt wastewater with excellent anti-fouling performance under external voltage.

Preparation and characterization of high-performance water-based graphene dispersions for conductive coating on textiles

Studies on e-textile applications have gained momentum with advanced material technologies. Graphene derivatives have become the focus of e-textile advanced studies due to their high conductivity potential. The chemical selection while preparing graphene dispersions to functionalize textiles affects the dispersion quality and integration into the fabric. In this study, water-based green graphene dispersions were prepared using sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) as a surfactant and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a binder due to its high solubility in water. The stability of graphene nanoplatelets (GNP), GNP/SDBS and GNP/SDBS/PVA dispersions were examined with the naked eye at certain time intervals. UV–vis spectroscopy results indicated that SDBS provided better dispersion and stability of graphene. The XPS results showed a strong interaction between GNP and SDBS, while the binding of PVA and SDBS in the dispersion was supported by FTIR results. Overall, the dispersion quality of water-based graphene dispersion was enhanced using PVA and SDBS for e-textile application. The electrical conductivity and tensile strength of the graphene-coated fabrics increased up to ∼1.6 (MΩ/☐) and 388%, respectively, in compared to the intact fabric.

Use of nitrate, sulphate, and iron (III) as electron acceptors to improve the anaerobic degradation of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate: effects on removal potential and microbiota diversification.

Linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) is a synthetic anionic surfactant that is found in certain amounts in wastewaters and even in water bodies, despite its known biodegradability. This study aimed to assess the influence of nitrate, sulphate, and iron (III) on LAS anaerobic degradation and biomass microbial diversity. Batch reactors were inoculated with anaerobic biomass, nutrients, LAS (20mg L-1), one of the three electron acceptors, and ethanol (40mg L-1) as a co-substrate. The control treatments, with and without co-substrate, showed limited LAS biodegradation efficiencies of 10 ± 2% and 0%, respectively. However, when nitrate and iron (III) were present without co-substrate, biodegradation efficiencies of 53 ± 4% and 75 ± 3% were achieved, respectively, which were the highest levels observed. Clostridium spp. was prominent in all treatments, while Alkaliphilus spp. and Bacillus spp. thrived in the presence of iron, which had the most significant effect on LAS biodegradation. Those microorganisms were identified as crucial in affecting the LAS anaerobic degradation. The experiments revealed that the presence of electron acceptors fostered the development of a more specialised microbiota, especially those involved in the LAS biodegradation. A mutual interaction between the processes of degradation and adsorption was also shown.

Identification of new endocrine disruptive transthyretin ligands in polluted waters using pull-down assay coupled to non-target mass spectrometry

Surface and treated wastewater are contaminated with highly complex mixtures of micropollutants, which may cause numerous adverse effects, often mediated by endocrine disruption. However, there is limited knowledge regarding some important modes of action, such as interference with thyroid hormone (TH) regulation, and the compounds driving these effects. This study describes an effective approach for the identification of compounds with the potential to bind to transthyretin (TTR; protein distributing TH to target tissues), based on their specific separation in a pull-down assay followed by non-target analysis (NTA). The method was optimized with known TTR ligands and applied to complex water samples. The specific separation of TTR ligands provided a substantial reduction of chromatographic features from the original samples. The applied NTA workflow resulted in the identification of 34 structures. Twelve compounds with available standards were quantified in the original extracts and their TH-displacement potency was confirmed. Eleven compounds were discovered as TTR binders for the first time and linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) were highlighted as contaminants of concern. Pull-down assay combined with NTA proved to be a well-functioning approach for the identification of unknown bioactive compounds in complex mixtures with great application potential across various biological targets and environmental compartments.