Biodegradation and environmental behavior of biodiesel mixtures in the sea: An initial study.
Biodiesel, a mixture of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) derived from animal fats or vegetable oils, is rapidly moving towards the mainstream as an alternative source of energy. However, the behavior of biodiesel, or blends of biodiesel with fossil diesel, in the marine environment have yet to be fully understood. Hence, we performed a series of initial laboratory experiments and simple calculations to evaluate the microbial and environmental fate of FAMEs. Aerobic seawater microcosms spiked with biodiesel or mixtures of biodiesel and fossil diesel revealed that the FAMEs were degraded at roughly the same rate as n-alkanes, and more rapidly than other hydrocarbon components. The residues extracted from these different microcosms became indistinguishable within weeks. Preliminary results from physical-chemical calculations suggest that FAMEs in biodiesel mixtures will not affect the evaporation rates of spilled petroleum hydrocarbons but may stabilize oil droplets in the water column and thereby facilitate transport.
DeMello
Jared A
JA
Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, United States.
Carmichael
Catherine A
CA
Peacock
Emily E
EE
Nelson
Robert K
RK
Samuel Arey
J
J
Reddy
Christopher M
CM
D000473:Alkanes / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic / Q000254:growth & development; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D004190:Disasters; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005648:Fuel Oils / Q000633:toxicity*; D008386:Marine Biology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012623:Seawater; D013997:Time Factors; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014872:Water Movements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*; D014887:Weather
D000473:Alkanes; D005648:Fuel Oils; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical