Ecotoxicity of Tetradecanoic Acid, 2-sulfo-, 1-methylester, Sodium Salt (C14MES)

Abstract

This paper reports the ecotoxicological study of “tetradecanoic acid, 2-sulfo-, 1-methylester, sodium salt (C14MES)”. This salt was synthesized by sulfonating 1-methyl tetradecanoic acid derived from palm oil and coconut oil with sulfur trioxide. The tests were attempted in accordance with the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) Guidelines for the Testing of Chemicals. The 72 h ErC50 exceeded 100 mg/L in the alga growth inhibition test. In the daphnia acute immobilization and reproduction tests, 17.2 mg/L of 48 h EC50 and 4.10 mg/L of NOEC were derived, respectively. These ecotoxicities of C14MES were equivalent to or lower than that of other similar anionic surfactants, such as LAS (linear alkylbenzene sulfonate) or AOS (alpha olefin sulfonate). © 2006, Japan Oil Chemists' Society. All rights reserved.