Course: BFM 202 Biodiesel Production

Lecture

Biodegradeability of Fuels
Credits
BFM 202 Biodiesel Production Unit 1 Reading has been adapted from "ENGY 131 Unit 1 Commentary: What is biodiesel?" by Southeastern Illinois College.

ENGY 131 Biodiesel Production course content by Southeastern Illinois College is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. Except where indicated otherwise.

Unit 9 Biodegradeability of Fuels

Biodegradability of Fuel

Oil-contaminated soil affects plant growth, surface water, ground water, air quality, and other environmental attributes around the sites of manufacturing, use, or a spill. It is necessary to understand the biodegradability of biodiesel in a soil environment in order to protect the environment and human health.

There are three basic methods for determining biodegradation in soil: laboratory tests, greenhouse studies, and field studies. Laboratory tests are bottle tests performed in a controlled environment and are time-saving, convenient, and economical. The disadvantage is that they do not necessarily replicate field conditions. Field studies allow conditions similar to the actual environment to be replicated but they're costly and take a long time. Greenhouse studies combine laboratory tests and field studies in an attempt to mimic the environmental complexity of a situation.

These tests attempt to gauge hydrocarbon residue, microbial activity, and toxicity of contaminated environment. They can include plant bioassays of seed germination which is a common evaluator of soil toxicity.