Soap analysis makes use of the cationic dye methylene blue, which binds the anionic surfactant Igepon TC-42, then is extracted into chloroform and intensity of blue color measured. These results indicate that the normal rhizosphere microflora has a significant potential for soap degradation. Numbers of soap degraders increased more rapidly in the unfiltered gray water treatment, suggesting an inoculum effect. After 83 days, numbers of soap degraders were more than a log higher in the synthetic and gray water treatments than in the control. Total and respiring cell numbers were greater in both the synthetic and gray water treatments than in the control.
Current analysis involves evaluation of results from selective media and molecular studies.
Preliminary results suggest that human-associated organisms do not survive in the hydroponic system. These are two preliminary gray water studies that have not yet had a chance to be replicated. From these studies, new experiments will be designed to better answer the questions that arose from gray water additions. Inclusion of gray water seems to have minor effects on plant growth, although indirect effects on pH led to additional problems in the soybean plant system. Soap degradation rate increases with time.