Application of biodiesel from higher alcohols for removal of oil spills from coastal sediments

Author: FARAGUNA FABIO, GOTOVUSA MIA, HUZJAK PAULA, ZADRAVEC IVANA, ZADRAVEC MARINA

Company/Institution: Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology

Country: Croatia

e-mail: > ffaragun@fkit.unizg.hr

web: https://www.fkit.unizg.hr/

With the goal of environmental remediation in accordance with the principles of the circular economy, renewable and biodegradable agents from waste cooking oil were developed and their effectiveness in removing oil from coastal sediments (sand and gravel) was investigated. Fatty acid methyl and ethyl esters (FAME and FAEE) proved to be the most effective in removing oil from sand (88-89 %), while fatty acid ethyl and butyl esters (FAEE and FABE) proved to be the most effective for gravel (74-77 %). Synthesized biodiesel as an oil removing agent showed better removal efficiency under almost all conditions compared to the removal with water alone. These agents for remediation of oil spills have great commercial potential, both as remediation agents, since they are produced from the cheapest and widely available waste feedstock material, and as energy sources that can further be used, alongside the removed oil, as fuels.