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Biodegradation of vegetable oils: A review
Emmanuel O. Aluyor, Kessington O. Obahiagbon and
Mudiakeoghene Ori-jesu
Department
of Chemical Engineering, University of Benin, Benin City,
Nigeria.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
eoaluyor@yahoo.com.
Accepted 9 June, 2009. |
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Vegetable
oils have traditionally been applied in food uses, but
recent trends suggest their economic usefulness as
industrial fluids. Increasing crude oil prices and emphasis
on the development of renewable, environmentally friendly
industrial fluids have brought vegetable oils to a place of
prominence. Biodegradability provides an indication of the
persistence of any particular substance in the environment
and is the yardstick for assessing the eco friendliness of
substances. The superior biodegradation of vegetable oils in
comparison with mineral based oils has been demonstrated
severally, leaving scientists with the lone challenge of
finding economic and safe means to improve their working
efficiency in terms of their poor oxidative stability and
high pour points.
Keywords:
Biodegradability, oxidative stability, environment, eco
friendliness, renewable. |
