ABSTRACT
The search for alternative fuels to petroleum was stimulated by two main reasons. Firstly, there are predictions that in the near future the main oil reserves would completely run out, which would be a disaster, due to the high-profi le global dependence on oil (Leung et al. 2010). Moreover, there are serious environmental and public health concerns related to the burning of this fuel (Leung et al. 2010, Chen et al. 2010), including
1Laboratory of Renewable Energy and Environment of Pontal, Faculty of Integrated Sciences of Pontal, Federal University of Uberlândia. Rua Vinte 1600, Tupã. 38304-402, Ituiutaba, MG, Brazil. aE-mail: fl ash@pontal.ufu.br bE-mail: tiago_almeida@qui.pontal.ufu.br. 2Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo. Av. Bandeirantes 3900, Monte Alegre. 14040-901, Ribeirão Preto, SP. Brazil. cE-mail: dessaqtironi@yahoo.com.br dE-mail: marcelex@ffclrp.usp.br. *Corresponding author
emission of so-called greenhouse gases, among which carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) stand out. In addition to these greenhouse gases, the pollutant sulfur dioxide (SO2) is also released, which has detrimental effects on the environment and human health, such as respiratory disorders, allergies, nervous system and vital organs degeneration, and cancer, just to mention a few (Pinto et al. 2005).
