Abstract
Biodiesel demand is increasing all over the world and the inhibition of microbial growth during the storage of this biofuel is extremely important. There are few studies involving the evaluation of biocides specifically for biodiesel. In the present work, we synthesized and evaluated a set of biocide candidates from chemical transformations in triacylglycerides. Samples of pure biodiesel with the products were evaluated against microorganisms which have been isolated from biodiesel/diesel blends (fungi A. niger, A. fumigatus, C. albicans and S. cerevisiae; and bacteria B. subtilis and Acinetobacter sp.). None of the products inhibited the growth of bacteria. Four nitrated derivatives presented fungicidal activity. The nitrated derivatives were also evaluated as cetane number improvers for B7 biodiesel/diesel blend. The nitrates of soybean methoxylated ethylene glycol esters increased the cetane number by more than three points. Despite showing modest biocide activity, the results can guide the planning of new products from triacylglycerides.
Highlights
Renewable fuels, such as biodiesel and bioethanol, have been pointed out as an elegant solution for the increasing demand on liquid fuels and address the increasing global warming awareness
None of the products tested inhibited the growth of bacteria
Four nitrated derivatives were active against species of Aspergillus, fungus commonly found in biodiesel/diesel blends
Summary
Biodiesel has been used pure or blended to diesel in compression ignition engines by many countries. Note that biodiesel, which is a mixture of methyl or ethyl fatty acid esters, does not have nitrogen in its composition and, the increasing NOx emissions is not due to enhancing nitrogen content in the fuel, but because of the augmenting temperature in the burning chamber of the engine, as pointed out in the literature (see, for instance, Carvalho Jr. and Lacava).[2]. In Brazil, the main industrial production of biodiesel is performed by methanolysis of triacylglycerides, using mainly hydroxide or alkoxide as catalyst.[4] It is worth to mention that the demand for this biofuel in Brazil has increased because of the gradually augmenting of blending, and due to the growing diesel consumption
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