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Updated: May 12, 2026

Extraction and Characterization of Surfactants from Atmospheric Aerosols
Published on: April 21, 2017
Advanced oxidation of a commercially important nonionic surfactant: investigation of degradation products and
Akin Karci1, Idil Arslan-Alaton, Miray Bekbolet
1Boğaziçi University, Institute of Environmental Sciences, 34342 Bebek, Istanbul, Turkey.
Abstract:
The evolution of degradation products and changes in acute toxicity during advanced oxidation of the nonionic surfactant nonylphenol decaethoxylate (NP-10) with the H2O2/UV-C and photo-Fenton processes were investigated. H2O2/UV-C and photo-Fenton processes ensured complete removal of NP-10, which was accompanied by the generation of polyethylene glycols with 3-8 ethoxy units. Formation of aldehydes and low carbon carboxylic acids was evidenced. According to the acute toxicity tests carried out with Vibrio fischeri, degradation products being more inhibitory than the original NP-10 solution were formed after the H2O2/UV-C process, whereas the photo-Fenton process appeared to be toxicologically safer since acute toxicity did not increase relative to the original NP-10 solution after treatment. Temporal evolution of the acute toxicity was strongly correlated with the identified carboxylic acids being formed during the application of H2O2/UV-C and photo-Fenton processes.
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