Journal of Fundamentals of Renewable Energy and Applications
Open Access

Abstract

Respiratory System of Rats Exposed to Pollutants arising out of Heating Residual Glycerol

Daniel Silveira Serra, Kaio Bruno Pereira De Brito, Kelly Lima Oliveira, Mona Lisa Moura de Oliveira and Francisco Sales Ávila Cavalcante

Biofuels, such as biodiesel are renewable alternatives and environmentally safe fossil fuels. In the production of biodiesel, about 10% of the total volume is residual glycerol. This residual glycerol has impurities that prevent their direct use. Thus, it is important to search for alternatives to the direct use of such environmental liabilities. His direct combustion appears as a very promising route. Among the steps for using the residual glycerol as a fuel, no heating, with potential to generate pollutants whose effects on health are poorly investigated. This paper presents to study the effects of vapors from the residual glycerol heating in the respiratory system of rats. The animals were exposed to glycerol heating gas for 5 hours. As a result, an increase in the parameters of tissue elastance (H) and tissue resistance (G) of animals exposed to gases. Our results demonstrate that, despite the short period of exposure, there are changes in parameters related to lung tissue (G, H and CST), proving the harmful effect on the respiratory system of mice exposed to pollutants from the residual glycerol heating. This study can be used as reference works that intend to use the residual glycerol as fuel furnaces or boilers.