TOXICITY ASSESSMENT OF VEGETABLE BIODIESEL IN AQUATIC ORGANISMS: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

Abstract

The emerging inclusion of sustainable fuels in the Global Energy Matrix implies the need to assess the toxicity of these compounds as a mean of protecting the environment. This study determines the toxicity of two biodiesel formulations lab-produced from peanut and soybean vegetable oils. Thus, the grains were extracted with hexane, and biodiesel was produced via methyl transesterification. Toxicity was tested using the freshwater crustacean Daphnia similis. The results were statistically compared and evaluated based on the effect concentration capable of immobilizing 50% of the organisms (CE50). The study allowed inferencing that the raw material influences the toxic load of biofuels, possibly due to the chemical composition of the grain and production aspects