Pphotobacterium phosphoreumtest data of non‐ionic surfactants

Abstract

A series of chemical compounds belonging to the non‐ionic polyethoxylated surfactants family were selected: fatty alcohols, alkyl phenols and fatty amines. Their toxicity was determined against a biological test system: luminiscent marine bacteria, Photobacterium phosphoreum. Toxicity of chemicals was monitored by the decrease in intensity of the ligth emitted by bacteria as a consequence of their contact with surfactants. From the results obtained through the above mentioned biological toxicity test, a direct relationship between the hydrophobic chain length and the toxicity for a series of linear alcohols has been established. Also, for a series of ethoxylated alcohols, alkyl phenols and fatty amines, the toxicity of homologous is very dependent of the ethoxylation grade, e.g. the greater the HLB value of the homologous, the smallest its toxicity.