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Anaerobic biodegradation of biofuels and BTEX compounds in aquifer sediment, with implications for modeling transport and fate (Philadelphia)
Citation:
WILSON, J. T. Anaerobic biodegradation of biofuels and BTEX compounds in aquifer sediment, with implications for modeling transport and fate (Philadelphia). Presented at the Philadelphia, PA Workshop, Philadelphia, PA, April 14, 2010.
Impact/Purpose:
To understand the fate of biodiesel and ethonal materials if they are released from underground storage tank systems.
Description:
Biofuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel, are a growing component of the nation’s fuel supply. Ethanol is the primary biofuel in the US market, distributed as a blend with petroleum gasoline, in concentrations ranging from 10% ethanol (E10) to 85% ethanol (E85). Biodiesel, made from soybean oil or other vegetable oils or from waste cooking fats, is also available in the US market. Other compounds including n-propanol, iso-propanol, n-butanol, 2,5-dimethylfuran have been proposed as biofuels, but at present have not achieved an important share of the US market. With increasing use of biofuels, ethanol in particular, in the fuel supply nationwide, and increases in the number of stations that sell gasoline that contains more than 10% ethanol, U.S. EPA needs to understand the fate of these materials if they are released from underground storage tank systems. U.S. EPA/ORD/NRMRL has constructed a microcosm study to follow the anaerobic biodegradation of these biofuels in aquifer sediment. The rate of biodegradation of ethanol was near 20 mg/L per day. The ethanol was converted to acetate and butyrate, and then to methane. The rate of degradation of Propanol, iso-Propanol, n-Butanol and biodiesel was near 2 mg/L per day. The product of degradation of Propanol, iso-Propanol, n-Butanol was the corresponding fatty acid. There was little production of acetate or methane.