Media
Release
Joint AIMS - Fuchs Media
Release
Marine
study an advance for protecting the Great Barrier Reef
April 30,
2003
The Australian Institute of Marine
Science (AIMS) results released today demonstrate vegetable oil
lubricants biodegrade significantly faster under tropical marine
conditions than their mineral oil counterparts.
The scientific study is a world first
in the tropical marine environment and was a collaborative partnership
between AIMS and the Fuchs Group, which specialises in lubricants for
a diverse range of applications.
The study was conducted in seawater
over 7 and 14 day periods using natural mangrove and coral reef
microbial communities. The study showed:
After 14 days, the reef microbes
degraded the vegetable oil lubricant by 66% and the mangrove
microbes degraded the vegetable oil lubricant by 83%. The hydraulic,
mineral oil lubricant was not degraded significantly > by either
microbial community.
Over 14 days, the reef microbes
degraded the vegetable oil lubricant by 55% and the mangrove
microbes degraded the vegetable oil lubricant by 71%. > Both reef
and mangrove micro-organisms failed to degrade the 2-stroke >
mineral oil lubricant.
After 14 days, the reef and mangrove
microbes degraded the vegetable oil lubricant by 24% and 47%
respectively. No significant degradation of mineral oil was observed
over 14 days.
"The findings are significant for
sensitive marine environments such as the Great Barrier Reef because
2-stroke engines can emit as much as 30% of their fuel/lubricant
mixture directly into the water through their exhaust," Dr Andrew
Negri, AIMS said
"Toxicity comparisons between the
vegetable and mineral 2-stroke oils were also made. Neither of the
oils was particularly toxic to mangroves, fish or corals compared with
other contaminants. The mineral oils were slightly more toxic to
barramundi and the vegetable oils slightly more toxic to mangroves and
corals. A detailed assessment showed that the toxicity of vegetable
2-stroke oils towards coral was due to the fragrance, new mown hay,
containing coumarin. As a result of this study the new mown hay
fragrance is no longer used in this product," Dr Negri said.
"We were extremely pleased with
the study results as they demonstrate that in spillage or usage
situations vegetable oil lubricants outperform mineral oil lubricants
in their ability to biodegrade faster," Wayne Hoiles, Managing
Director, Fuchs Lubricants (Australasia) said.
"The environmental benefits of
Fuchs’ rapidly biodegradable vegetable based lubricants are
clear," he added.
For further
information:
Andrew Negri, AIMS Marine
Biotechnology Group, tel: 07 4753 4322
Theresa Millard, AIMS Science Communication, tel: (07) 4735
4250
Wayne Hoiles, Fuchs Lubricants
(Australasia) mobile (0419) 311 097
 AIMS home page
web@aims.gov.au
Last updated - April 30, 2003
Copyright ©1996-2003 Australian Institute of Marine Science
URL http://www.aims.gov.au
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