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Are all surfactants biodegradable Surfactant-based cleaning products are designed to be used with water, be it DI (de-ionized water), RO (Reverse Osmosis) or Tap Water and disposed of down the drain. There they combine with other wastes for treatment in either a municipal treatment plant, an on site chemical treatment process or a household septic tank system. During treatment, microorganisms biodegrade surfactants and other organic materials, ultimately breaking them down into carbon dioxide, water and minerals. Any small amounts of surfactants that remain after treatment continue to biodegrade in the environment. Extensive laboratory testing and "real-world" monitoring studies have shown that the major surfactants biodegrade quickly and thoroughly, and do not present a risk to organisms living in the environment. The slight differences in biodegradation rates that can be shown in laboratory screening tests between petrochemical and oleochemical surfactants are not generally thought of as meaningful in the environment, since both are significantly removed during wastewater treatment. Source: The Soap and Detergent Association. www.cleaning101.com
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