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Biodegradation of resin acid sodium salts

Informally Refereed

Abstract

The sodium salts of resin acids were readily degraded by microflora from two types of river water and from an activated sewage sludge. A lag phase with little or no resin acid salt degradation but rapid bacterial development occurred which was greatly extended by a decrease in incubation temperature. After this initial lag phase, the resin acid salts were rapidly decomposed with either of the three natural inocula. Sodium salts of levopimaric/palustric and dehydroabietic acids were most readily degraded, followed by abietic and neoabietic acid salts; pimaric and isopimaric acid salts were most resistant to biodegradation. Addition of 10% of neutralized spent bisulfite liquor did not affect cell growth or resin acid salt degradation but addition of acidic liquor restricted degradation by activated sludge until the pH had increased to 7.3.

Keywords

Resin acids, resin acid sodium salts, waste water, toxicity, bacteria, biodegration, acitivated sludge, microorganisms, spent sulfite liquors

Citation

Hemingway, Richard W.; Greaves, H. 1973. Biodegradation of resin acid sodium salts. Tappi 56(12):189-192
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/8026