Abstract: With “Test method for anaerobic biodegradability of organic materials” (GB/T 27857-2011) as reference,and under simulated anaerobic laboratory conditions,the primary and ultimate anaerobic biodegradability performance of alkylethoxyglucosides (AEG) were measured separately by anthrone colorimetric method and TOC method respectively.Results show that even if the initial mass concentration of AEG reaches 100 mg/L,the primary degradation extent can achieve more than 90%,and when the initial mass concentration is 40 mg/L,the ultimate anaerobic degradation extent can achieve 88.5%.The biodegradation mechanism of AEG is studied with the application of GC-MS,and the result shows that the first step is the cleavage of the ether-glucoside bond with the formation of glucose and AEO,and the next step is the degradation of AEO molecule from the terminal EO,with the releasing of alcohol molecule.Finally they convert to carbon dioxide,methane and water.

Key words: alkylethoxyglucosides, biodegradation, anaerobic, biodegradation mechanism