Question

Why detergents are non biodegradable but soaps are biodegradable/2186823/abf18217?utm_source=registration

Answer 1

soaps are formed by the reaction of alkaline (lye) and fats and oils. Fats and oils can easily be broken down into simple molecules by microbes and hence soaps are biodegradable.

Detergents are synthetic compounds, generally ammonium or sulphate salts of long chain carboxylic acids. These synthetic compounds can not be broken down into simple molecules by microbes and hence detergents are non biodegradable.



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Answer 2

Soaps are usually sodium or potassium salts of long chain hydrocarbons of vegetable oil. They are less branched and are quite comparatively easier to break the carbon bonds and degrade them by microorganisms.


But detergents are ammonium or sulphate salts of long chain hydrocarbons of animal fat and fatty acids. They are quite saturated and have strong carbon bonds and are quite branched and sometimes branched vigorously which makes them difficult to break down and degrade.


-Maheshwaran.