Revista de Biología Tropical
versión On-line ISSN 0034-7744versión impresa ISSN 0034-7744
Resumen
LUTZ, Giselle; CHAVARRIA, Max; ARIAS, María Laura y MATA-SEGREDA, Julio F. Microbial degradation of palm (Elaeis guineensis )biodiesel. Rev. biol. trop [online]. 2006, vol.54, n.1, pp.59-63. ISSN 0034-7744.
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.
Palabras clave : Palm biodiesel; fatty esters; Elaeis guineensis; wild-type bacterial degradation; kinetics.