Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Assessment of three plant-based biodiesels using a Daphnia magna bioassay

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Biodiesel is an alternative fuel that is gradually replacing petroleum-based diesel use. Although biodiesel is considered friendlier to the environment, the potential toxic effects of biodiesel to aquatic organisms are still uncertain due to the wide range of feedstocks used to generate the fuel. The aquatic cladoceran Daphnia magna (D. magna) has been commonly used as a lethal and/or sub-lethal toxicological model organism in ecological risk assessments for contaminated water environments. In this work, we evaluated whether significant differences exist in the sensitivity of freshwater aquatic life to different biodiesels. The acute toxicity of three plant-based biodiesels was investigated using D. magna over a 96-h period. In addition, diesel fuel was tested as a reference. Increased immobility was observed as time progressed following exposure. Testing revealed of the four fuel products, diesel proved most toxic to D. magna, with half maximal effective concentration (EC50) values of 4.7 μg/mL (24 h) and 3.4 μg/mL (72 h). Among the biodiesels, safflower methyl biodiesel was most toxic, with EC50 values of 1026 μg/mL (24 h) and 71 μg/mL (48 h). Our data indicate that although not all biodiesels were toxic, the short-term exposure of D. magna to sub-lethal concentrations of biodiesels affects their mobility and thus decreases their reproductive potential. Overall, this research provides insights into the sub-lethal effects of biodiesels on an aquatic organism.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bajpai D, Tyagi VK (2006) Biodiesel: source, production, composition, properties and its benefits. J Oleo Sci 55(10):487–502

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bamgbose I, Anderson TA (2015) Phytotoxicity of three plant-based biodiesels, unmodified castor oil, and Diesel fuel to alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), radish (Raphanus sativus), and wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum). Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 122:268–274

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bucas G, Saliot A (2002) Sea transport of animal and vegetable oils and its environmental consequences. Mar Pollut Bull 44(12):1388–1396

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bergmann JC, Tupinambá DD, Costa OYA, Almeida JRM, Barreto CC, Quirino BF (2013) Biodiesel production in Brazil and alternative biomass feedstocks. Renew Sustain Energ Rev 21:411–420

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blanchfield, J.E., 2016. Characterization and degradation of fatty acid methyl esters and biodiesel in artificial seawater under UV exposure using Raman spectroscopy (Doctoral dissertation, University of Washington)

  • Bluhm, K., Heger, S., Seiler, T.B., Hallare, A.V., Schäffer, A. and Hollert, H., 2012. Toxicological and ecotoxicological potencies of biofuels used for the transport sector—a literature review. Energy & Environmental Science, 5(6):7381–7392

  • Camargo RP, Carrim AJI, Antoniosi Filho NR (2017) Study ecotoxicity of biodiesel from residual oils and fats and the effects of salinity aquatic ecosystems. Ecotoxicol Environ Contam 12(1):63–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Canakci M, Sanli H (2008) Biodiesel production from various feedstocks and their effects on the fuel properties. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol 35:431–441

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cavalcante DG, Da Silva ND, Marcarini JC, Mantovani MS, Marin-Morales MA, Martinez CB (2014) Cytotoxic, biochemical and genotoxic effects of biodiesel produced by different routes on ZFL cell line. Toxicol in Vitro 28(6):1117–1125

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Corseuil HX, Monier AL, Gomes AP, Chiaranda HS, do Rosario M, Alvarez PJ (2011) Biodegradation of soybean and castor oil biodiesel: implications on the natural attenuation of monoaromatic hydrocarbons in groundwater. Ground Water Monit Rem 31:111–118

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cruz JM, Lopes PRM, Montagnolli RN, Tamada IS, Silva NMMG, Bidoia ED (2013) Phytotoxicity of soil contaminated with petroleum derivatives and biodiesel. Ecotoxicol Environ Contam 8(1):49–54

    Google Scholar 

  • Cvengroš, J., Paligová, J. and Cvengrošová, Z., 2006. Properties of alkyl esters base on castor oil. European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology, 108(8):629–635

  • CytoCulture (1997) “Marine Biodiesel Survey among 100 Recreational Boaters in San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California” Report for National Renewable Laboratory project sponsored by the US Department of Energy.

  • De Oliveira FC, Coelho ST (2017) History, evolution, and environmental impact of biodiesel in Brazil: a review. Renew Sust Energ Rev 75:168–179

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Demirbas A (2009) Progress and recent trends in biodiesel fuels. Energy Convers Manag 50(1):14–34

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Demirbas A (2017) Tomorrow’s biofuels: goals and hopes. Energy Sources Part A 39(7):673–679

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Faimali, M., Gambardella, C., Costa, E., Piazza, V., Morgana, S., Estévez-Calvar, N. and Garaventa, F., 2016. Old model organisms and new behavioral end-points: swimming alteration as an ecotoxicological response. Mari. Environ. Res

  • Fleeger JW, Carman KR, Nisbet RM (2003) Indirect effects of contaminants in aquatic ecosystems. Sci Total Environ 317(1):207–233

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gauthier, S.J., 2012. Biodiesel and crude oil effects on foraging capacity of crayfish. Orconectus rusticus. https://etd.ohiolink.edu/pg_10?0::NO:10:P10_ETD_SUBID:49912

  • Hawrot-Paw M, Izwikow M (2015) Ecotoxicological effects of biodiesel in the soil. J Ecol Eng 16(5):34–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hollebone, B. P., et al. (2008) Aqueous solubility, dispersibility and toxicity of biodiesels. Int. Oil Spill Conf 2008. No. 1. American Petroleum Institute

  • Karmakar A, Karmakar S, Mukherjee S (2010) Properties of various plants and animals feedstocks for biodiesel production. Bioresour Technol 101(19):7201–7210

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khan N, Warith MA, Luk G (2007) A comparison of acute toxicity of biodiesel, biodiesel blends, and diesel on aquatic organisms. J Air Waste Manage Assoc 57:286–296

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kimble J (2012) Biofuels and emerging issues for emergency responders. U.S Environmental Protection Agency. Available at https://archive.epa.gov/ncea/biofuels/web/pdf/kimblebiofuels.pdf

  • Knothe, G. and Razon, L.F., 2017. Biodiesel fuels. Progress in Energy and Combustion Science, 58:36–59

  • Leme DM, Grummt T, de Oliveira DP, Sehr A, Renz S, Reinel S, Ferraz ER, de Marchi MRR, Machado MC, Zocolo GJ, Marin-Morales MA (2012) Genotoxicity assessment of water soluble fractions of biodiesel and its diesel blends using the Salmonella assay and the in vitro MicroFlow® kit (Litron) assay. Chemosphere 86:512–520

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leite MBNL, De Araujo MMS, Nascimento IA, Da Cruz ACS, Pereira SA, Do Nascimento NC (2011) Toxicity of water-soluble fractions of biodiesel fuels derived from castor oil, palm oil, and waste cooking oil. Environ Toxicol Chem 30(4):893–897

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Makareviciene V, Janulis P (2003) Environmental effect of rapeseed oil ethyl ester. Renew Energy 28:2395–2403

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McKelvey RW, Robertson I, Whitehead PE (1980) Effect of non-petroleum oil spills on wintering birds near Vancouver. Mar Pollut Bull 11(6):169–171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moirangthem, K. and Baxter, D., 2016. Alternative fuels for marine and inland waterways. European Commission

  • Mudge SM (1995) Deleterious effects from accidental spillages of vegetable oils. Spill Sci Technol Bull 2(2):187–191

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nogueira L, da Silva DGH, Oliveira TYK, da Rosa JMC, Felício AA, de Almeida EA (2013) Biochemical responses in armored catfish (Pterygoplichthys anisitsi) after short-term exposure to diesel oil, pure biodiesel and biodiesel blends. Chemosphere 93(2):311–319

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, C.L. and Möller, G., 2004. Biodegradability, BOD5, COD and toxicity of biodiesel fuels. University of Idaho Biodiesel Education

  • Poon R, Valli VE, Rigden M, Rideout G, Pelletier G (2009) Short-term oral toxicity of three biodiesels and an ultra-low sulfur diesel in male rats. Food Chem Toxicol 47:1416–1424

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salam, D.A., Suidan, M.T. and Venosa, A.D., 2016. Biodegradation and toxicity of vegetable oils in contaminated aquatic environments: Effect of antioxidants and oil composition. Science of The Total Environment, 547:95–103

  • Scholz, V. and da Silva, J.N., 2008. Prospects and risks of the use of castor oil as a fuel. Biomass and Bioenergy, 32(2):95–100

  • Singh SP, Singh D (2010) Biodiesel production through the use of different sources and characterization of oils and their esters as the substitute of diesel: a review. Renew Sustain Energ Rev 14(1):200–216

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Swanson KJ, Madden MC, Ghio AJ (2007) Biodiesel exhaust: the need for health effects research. Environ. Health Perspect 115(4):496

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tamada IS, Montagnolli RN, Lopes PR, Bidoia ED (2012) Toxicological evaluation of vegetable oils and biodiesel in soil during the biodegradation process. Braz J Microbiol 43(4):1576–1581

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • United States Environmental Protection Agency. 2002. Methods for measuring the acute toxicity of effluents and receiving waters to freshwater and marine organisms, fifth edition. EPA-821-R-02-012, Washington, DC

  • Vauhkonen, V., Lauhanen, R., Ventelä, S., Suojaranta, J., Pasila, A., Kuokkanen, T., Prokkola, H. and Syväjärvi, S., 2011. The phytotoxic effects and biodegradability of stored rapeseed oil and rapeseed oil methyl ester. https://doi.org/10.2137/145960611797215673

  • Zhang, L., Gibble, R. and Baer, K.N., 2003. The effects of 4-nonylphenol and ethanol on acute toxicity, embryo development, and reproduction in Daphnia magna. Ecotoxicology and environmental safety, 55(3):330–337

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Institute of Environmental and Human Health, Department of Environmental Toxicology, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA

    Ifeoluwa A. Bamgbose & Todd A. Anderson

Authors
  1. Ifeoluwa A. Bamgbose
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Todd A. Anderson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ifeoluwa A. Bamgbose.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Bamgbose, I.A., Anderson, T.A. Assessment of three plant-based biodiesels using a Daphnia magna bioassay. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 4506–4515 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0678-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0678-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation