Aldehyde-based surfactant and process for treating industrial, commercial and institutional wastewater

摘要

A nonionic surfactant having cyclic 1,3-dioxane and/or 1,3-dioxolane functionality which is irreversibly splittable by lowering the pH ofits aqueous solution is useful in various processes requiring the removal of emulsified hydrophobic contaminants or other hydrophobic materials from an aqueous stream. After splitting of the surfactant into its component aldehyde and polyol, the hydrophobic components phase-separate and can be removed from the aqueous stream by routine means.