Microbial degradation of palm (Elaeis guineensis )biodiesel

• Main Authors: Giselle Lutz, Max Chavarría, María Laura Arias, Julio F Mata-Segreda
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Vicerractoría Investigación 2006-03-01
• Series: Revista de Biología Tropical
• Subjects: Palm biodiesel; fatty esters; Elaeis guineensis; wild-type bacterial degradation; kinetics
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.sa.cr/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0034-77442006000100007

The kinetics of biodegradation of palm-derived fatty methyl and ethyl esters (Elaeis guineensis biodiesel) by a wild-type aerobic bacterial population was measured at 20 °C, as the rate of oxygen uptake by a manometric technique. The methyl and ethyl biodiesels were obtained by potassium-hydroxide catalysed transesterification of palm oil, respectively. The bacterial flora included the genera Bacillus, Proteus, Pseudomonas, Citrobacter and Enterobacter. The rate of oxygen uptake for palm biodiesel is similar to the quantity observed in the biodegradation of 1.0 mM solutions of simple substrates such as carbohydrates or amino acids.Palm methyl or ethyl biodiesel is subjected to facile aerobic biodegradation by wild-type bacteria commonly present in natural open environments. This result should lessen any environmental concern for its use as alternative fuel, solvent or lubricant. Rev. Biol. Trop. 54(1): 59-63.Epub 2006 Mar 31.<br>La cinética de la biodegradación de los ésteres metílicos y etílicos derivados de palma (biodiesel) por una población silvestre de bacterias aeróbicas fue medida a 20 °C, como medición manométrica del consumo de oxígeno. Los ésteres metílicos y etílicos se obtuvieron por transesterificación del aceite de palma con metanol y etanol,respectivamente. La flora bacteriana incluyó a los géneros Bacillus, Proteus, Pseudomonas, Citrobacter y Enterobacter. Las velocidades de consumo de oxígeno para las muestras de biodiesel fueron similares a lo observado en la biodegradación de disoluciones 1.0 mM de sustratos sencillos solubles en agua, tales como carbohidratos, aminoácidos y albúmina de huevo.