Biodegradation of vegetable oils: a review.

Vegetable oils have traditionally been applied in food uses, but recent trends suggest their economic usefulness as industrial fluids. Increasing crude oil prices and emphasis on the development of renewable, environmentally friendly industrial fluids have brought vegetable oils to a place of prominence. Biodegradability provides an indication of the persistence of any particular substance in the environment and is the yardstick for assessing the eco friendliness of substances. The superior biodegradation of vegetable oils in comparison with mineral based oils has been demonstrated severally, leaving scientists with the lone challenge of finding economic and safe means to improve their working efficiency in terms of their poor oxidative stability and high pour points.   Keywords:  Biodegradability, oxidative stability, environment, eco friendliness, renewable.