Biodegradability of biodiesel fuel of animal and vegetable origin

Abstract

One of the positive features of biofuel concerning environmental protection is its high biodegradability. Fuel is considered to be biodegradable if not less than 90% of it degrades within 21 days. The aim of this work was to determine the biodegradability of various kinds of fatty acid methyl esters and their mixtures with fossil diesel fuel in natural environments. It was determined that fatty acid methyl esters meet the requirements for biodegradability set by the EU. Of rapeseed oil fatty acid methyl esters (RME), 91.2% degraded within 21 days, compared to 94.2% of rapeseed oil fatty acid ethyl esters, 98.3% of linseed oil fatty acid methyl esters (LSME), 90% of tallow fatty acid methyl esters, and 92.5% of pork lard fatty acid methyl esters (LME), while the amount of degraded fossil diesel fuel reached only 57.3%. The biodegradability of multi-component biofuels containing RME, LSME and LME is similar; the best is of a mixture of 70% RME, 6% LSME and 24% LME. It was determined that more than 90% of multi-component biofuel and fossil diesel fuel mixtures degrade within 21 days when they contain 35% and more of multi-component biofuel. © 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.