Soybean biodiesel effects on anaerobic biodegradation of benzene and toluene

The effects of biodiesel on the biodegradation of benzene and toluene under anaerobic conditions were assessed using two microcosms constructed using synthetic groundwater, methanogenic inoculum and amended with benzene, toluene and biodiesel. In the presence of biodiesel, benzene and toluene degradation was substantially inhibited. Biodiesel degradation was followed by a production of acetate and methane, consumption of sulfate and a 45-fold increase in sulfate-reducing concentration. These results demonstrated that, in the presence of benzene and toluene, biodiesel was biodegraded under sulfate-reduction and methanogenic conditions and also stimulated biomass growth.