Development of a electrochemical biosensor obtained from vegetable extract for the triglycerides determination in biodiesel

Abstract

Biodiesel is a renewable energy source, alternative to fossil fuels, which has received much attention because it presents similar characteristics and, in some cases, even better than mineral diesel. However, to ensure the quality control of this biofuel, the National Petroleum Agency (ANP) has set appropriate limits to maintain their chemical and physical-chemical characteristics. In this context, a biosensor based on carbon peroxidase from turnip extract was used for the determination of unreacted triglycerides in samples of biodiesel. The device tested presented accuracy, simplicity and low cost. The results when compared with gas chromatography show a variation of 5.8 % in the triglycerides concentration and a linear region of 5.5 to 55 μmol L -1 and a detection limit of 4.0 10-8mol L -1 (IUPAC method). Analyses performed by biosensors fall into the Green Analytical Chemistry because they use few reagents and generate a low level of waste.