EFFECTS OF SYNTHETIC DETERGENTS ON SEWAGE TREATMENT PROCESSES

It is not the purpose of this paper to review in detail the extensive litera ture which has developed on syndets in relation to sewage treatment, but rather to present some new informa tion and attempt an extrapolation of available data to predict how increased consumption of syndets and diminish ing use of soap is likely to aifect sew age treatment processing in the years ahead. Studies have been conducted by sev eral investigators in the M.I.T. labora tories over the past five years. It is largely from this fund of information, and personal experiences at several treatment plants at widely scattered parts of the United States, that this appraisal is attempted. The discus sion divides itself naturally into con siderations related to primary treat ment, secondary treatment, and the receiving stream.