Abstract
Sustainable renewable alternatives to petroleum fuels are being investigated because of the growing demand for transportation fuel. Synthetic fuels like diesel are produced from natural gas and coal feed stocks, via the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis process. Biodiesel can be an attractive alternative to petroleum-derived diesel because its physical properties are similar to those of petrodiesel and it can be transported by and stored in existing infrastructure. The biodegradability of synthetic diesel and biodiesel blends were determined, using respirometry to establish whether the biodiesel could enhance the biodegradability of the blends when compared to the synthetic petroleum diesel. In addition, a model was developed to estimate the biodegradability of the diesel and diesel/biodiesel blends using the molecular composition of the fuels and a prediction software program. The addition of biodiesel to synthetic diesel enhanced the biodegradability of the blends. Less than 1% biodiesel addition improved the degradability classification from inherently biodegradable to readily biodegradable. The addition of biodiesel to petroleumderived diesel could promote the use of renewable alternatives because the blends have superior biodegradability compared to petroleum diesel. The benefit of using biodiesel to enhance the remediation of hydrocarbon contamination was also confirmed.
Highlights
Volhoubare en hernubare alternatiewe vir petroleumbrandstowwe word ondersoek vanweë die toenemende aanvraag na brandstof in die vervoerbedryf
The biodegradability of synthetic diesel and biodiesel blends were determined, using respirometry to establish whether the biodiesel could enhance the biodegradability of the blends when compared to the synthetic petroleum diesel
A model was developed to estimate the biodegradability of the diesel and diesel/biodiesel blends using the molecular composition of the fuels and a prediction software program
Summary
Biodegradering van sintetiese gas-tot-vloeistof-diesel, biodiesel en hul mengsels. Affiliations: 1Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, South Africa. Biodiesel kan ’n aantreklike alternatief vir petroleumgebaseerde diesel wees omdat die fisiese eienskappe daarvan soortgelyk is aan dié van petrodiesel en dit vervoer en gestoor kan word deur van bestaande infrastruktuur gebruik te maak. Die byvoeging van biodiesel tot sintetiese diesel het die biodegradeerbaarheid van die mengsels bevorder. Die byvoeging van biodiesel tot petroleumgebaseerde diesel kan gebruik word om die ontwikkeling van hernubare alternatiewe aan te moedig, aangesien die mengsels beter biodegradeer as petroleumdiesel. Die gebruik van alternatiewe voedingsbronne soos natuurlike gas om vloeibare petroleumbrandstowwe te produseer, neem steeds toe en gas-tot-vloeistof-prosesse (GTV) word aantreklik om die produksie van veral sintetiese dieselbrandstowwe te verhoog. Biobrandstowwe is ’n aantreklike alternatief vir petroleumgebaseerde brandstowwe omdat hulle van hernubare bronne soos plant-biomassa, alge en dierevette geproduseer word deur prosesse http://www.satnt.ac.za doi:10.4102/satnt.v34i1.1302. Die oogmerk is om by te dra tot die ontwikkeling van ’n model waarvan die biodegradeerheid van mengsels van biodiesel/GTV-diesel voorspel kan word deur middel van ’n mengmodel wat gebaseer is op die bydraende molekulêre samestellings van die verskillende soorte diesel en dieselmengsels wat gebruik word
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif vir Natuurwetenskap en Tegnologie
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
