Biodegradation of Anionic Surfactant, Sodium 2-Naphthalene Sulfonate Formaldehyde Condensates, by the Fungus Cunninghamella polymorpha

The fungus Cunninghamella polymorpha, isolated from soil, efficiently degraded the anionic surfactant, sodium 2-naphthalene sulfonate formaldehyde condensates. The greatest degradation of the surfactant occurred for 48h. The initial degradation rate was 2.71mg/(lh g-dry cell debris). C. polymorpha degraded 86 and 92% of a 0.6g/l concentration of the surfactant, Demol N, in 48 and 96h, respectively.