Journal of Biotechnology & Biomaterials
Open Access

Abstract

Alternative fuels have become more prominent today because of environmental concerns. Biotechnology studies have improved the quality and yield of alternative fuels from both edible and inedible plant sources. Due to the increase in the use of alternative fuels, toxicology studies have become imperative to determine whether alternative fuels will affect the biochemistry of aquatic organisms. In this study, biodiesel in different concentrations (0.0, 0.1, 0.25 %v/v) was introduced into water samples of same volume containing species of Clarias gariepinus (African cat fish). The 3 groups of fish placed in (0.0 0.1, 0.25)%v/v biodiesel-contaminated water were sacrificed after 30 hours and enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidants (GSH, SOD, CAT, and MDA) as well as haematological properties were analyzed. Specific activity of SOD was found to be 8.55�0.89, 6.25�0.45 and 6.22�0.55 in the kidney of Control, 0.1%v/v and 0.25%v/v fish respectively. Similarly, specific activity of catalase was found to be 18.24�1.89, 15.30�0.76 and 13.39�1.27 in the gills of Control, 0.1%v/v and 0.25%v/v fish respectively. Conversely, the haematological property of Control is not significantly different from those of 0.1%v/v and 0.25%v/v fish. Results from this study showed significant decrease in the antioxidant status of cat fish from biodiesel contaminated water, however, haematological properties of the fish were not affected. This study revealed that biodiesel from palm kernel oil poses threat to aquatic life forms.

Biography

Olalekan Adeyemi completed his PhD from University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria and Postdoctoral studies from Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba, Nigeria as well as Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Nigeria, a premier University of petroleum in Africa. He is a Postdoctoral Fellow of the Society of Toxicology, Virginia. He is the leader of the Biotechnology and Environmental Toxicology Research Team. He has published more than 35 papers in high-impact reputable journals and has been serving as an Editorial Board Member of repute.