Two parallel biodegradation pathways of alcohol ethoxylates have been discovered.
Apart from central fission, oxyethylene chain shortening has been evidenced.
Both a single Enterobacter strain and raw river water cause the same two pathways.
Ω-carboxylated alcohol ethoxylates are intermediate metabolites for chain shortening.
Homogeneous alcohol ethoxylate C12E9 was the model used in this study.