Complete biodegradability assessment of polyoxyethylene glycerol ester non-ionic surfactant: aerobic, anaerobic, combined biodegradation and inhibitory effects Ríos Ruiz, Francisco Caparrós-Salvador, Francisco Lechuga Villena, Manuela María Fernández Serrano, Mercedes Aerobic biodegradation Anaerobic biodegradation Non-ionic surfactant Polyoxyethylene glycerol ester Inhibition Combined treatment Aerobic and anaerobic biodegradability have become one of the most relevant characteristics for all contaminants. This is especially important in case of surfactants, which are discharged in wastewater treatment plants or directly into the aquatic bodies. The aim of this study is the integral assessment of the biodegradability of the non-ionic surfactant polyoxyethylene glycerol ester PGE-OE17. The aerobic and anaerobic biodegradation of PGE-OE17 was evaluated at different initial surfactant concentrations, and the evolution of the toxicity of the surfactant and its by-products was followed during the aerobic and anaerobic processes using bacteria Vibrio fischeri. PGE-OE17 was not completely biodegradable neither aerobically nor anaerobically, and the increase in the initial surfactant concentration had a negative effect in the biodegradation. Toxicity of the surfactant solutions and degradation by-products had a first increase followed by a gradual decrease during both tests, revealing that toxic substances released can harm the microorganisms and therefore hinder the biodegradation. Additionally, combined aerobic-anaerobic biodegradation tests were performed, consisting in a first aerobic treatment of different duration and initial concentration, followed by a complete anaerobic treatment. Results showed that a balance between aerobic and anaerobic biodegradation duration can maximize the biodegradation rates in comparison with only aerobic or anaerobic tests. 2023-12-13T12:05:30Z 2023-12-13T12:05:30Z 2024-01-01 info:eu-repo/semantics/article Ríos, F., Caparrós-Salvador, F., Lechuga, M., Fernández-Serrano, M., 2024. Complete biodegradability assessment of polyoxyethylene glycerol ester non-ionic surfactant: Aerobic, anaerobic, combined biodegradation and inhibitory effects. Water Res 248, 120857. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2023.120857 https://hdl.handle.net/10481/86155 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120857 eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internacional Elsevier