Biodegradability assessment of cationic and amphoteric raw materials

The paper is devoted to a new and important actual theme namely the implementation of European Regulation No CE 648/2004 amended through Regulation No CE 907/2006. A significant request of Regulation is that each producer/distributor must to attest ultimate aerobic biodegradability of surfactants used in detergents. The present work proposed to assess the primary and ultimate biodegradability for 2 surfactant raw materials (dialkyl hydroxyethyl ammonium metasulphate and cocamidopropyl betaine), their mixture and 2 commercial cleaning products based on this type of surfactant (laundry balsam and toilet detergent). The laboratory experiments were performed ac- cording to OECD 302 B – primary biodegradability test, SR EN ISO 10707/2001 and SR EN ISO 7827/2001 – ‘ultimate’ aerobic biodegradability test. According to tests criteria, we obtained more than 80–90% biodegradability after 28 days (primary biodegradability) and 80–81% biodegradability after 28–30 days (ultimate biodegradability) for all test chemicals.