Good afternoon to All!

Last month we got new season for beverage plants in Europe. Together with it we got quite extremely values of anionic+cationic surfactants. Sometimes measured values reached 30 mg/l (anionic+cationic). Non ionic surfactants we are not measuring. Our problem now with big anaerobe sludge washout from anaerobe reactor. Is it possible to get more information about influence of surfactants to biologic WWTP? With few test was found surfactants reduction only after aerobic clarifier. Probably with anaerobe sludge removing also surfactants gone.

Sludge pointed you to a good discussion.  Question - what method are you using to measure cationic surfactants?

On treatment, aerobic biological treatment is the most common method.  You can get levels easily to permit limits and beyond.

Not only the question how cationics are measured is interesting but also how do you measure anionic surfactants. A lot of different methylene blue active substances maybe in fact not a surfactant.
In principle anionic surfactants in beverage industry maybe related to cleaning. Cationics to disinfection?

Kind regards
T. Sobisch