BIODEGRADATION PATTERNS AND TOXICITY OF THE CONSTITUENTS OF CANOLA OIL

The main objectives of this study were to design and conduct experiments to investigate the aerobic biodegradability of the five triglyceride components of canola oil, to determine if this biodegradation process produces any toxic byproducts, and to measure the toxicity levels of these byproducts. Experiments were performed to determine the rate and extent of the biodegradation in respirometry flasks, to monitor variations in toxicity during biodegradation, and to identify the causes of the observed toxicity. For each sampling event, three flasks were sacrificed and the contents were filtered in order to separate the aqueous and solid phases. In the case of trilinolenin, hydroperoxides were formed before the biodegradation took place. However, the fraction that did not contribute to the polymer formation was totally mineralized as shown from the chemical analysis and the oxygen utilization and carbon dioxide production measurements.