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Biodegradability of diesel and biodiesel blends
Adriano Pinto
Mariano*, Richard Clayton Tomasella, Luciano Marcondes de
Oliveira, Jonas Contiero and Dejanira de Franceschi de
Angelis
Departamento de Bioquímica e Microbiologia - Instituto de
Biociências (IB) - Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP).
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
adrianomariano@yahoo.com.br. Fax: +55-1935264176.
Accepted 16 February, 2008 |
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The biodegradability of pure diesel and biodiesel and blends
with different proportions of biodiesel (2% (commercial); 5%
and 20%) was evaluated employing the respirometric method
and the redox indicator 2,6-dichlorophenol indophenol (DCPIP)
test. In the former, experiments simulating the
contamination of natural environments (soil from a petrol
station or water from a river) were carried out in Bartha
biometer flasks (250 ml), and used to measure the microbial
CO2 production. With the DCPIP test, the
capability of three inocula to biodegrade the blends was
tested. Results show that although biodiesel is more easily
and faster biodegraded than diesel oil, among the blends
evaluated (2%, 5% and 20%), only the blend with higher
concentration of biodiesel presented biodegradability
significantly different from diesel and it was not verified
an improvement on the biodegradation of the diesel by means
of co-metabolism.
Key words:
Biodiesel, diesel, blend, biodegradability, bioremediation. |
