BIOLUBRICANTS PRODUCTION FROM RENEWABLE FEEDSTOCKS

The sustainability issues along with the geopolitical strategies concerning petroleum demand and manipulation, are recognized as examples of the driving forces that popularize the use of renewable biobased lubricants (biolubricants). In this study four different types of domestic fatty oils were utilized as starting materials for the production of biobased lubricant basestocks. Each fatty oil was converted to the corresponding trimethylolproprane (TMP) ester by applying a two stage transesterification process. The synthesized esters were evaluated as potential biolubricants concerning their physicochemical properties such as viscosity, viscosity index, pour point and acid value. Their lubricating ability was evaluated by determining the wear preventive characteristics in a Four Ball Tester and the lubricity in a High Frequency Reciprocating Rig apparatus. Overall, the synthesized biobased esters exhibit very good lubricating properties and thus they could be utilized as basestocks in the formulation of high added value biolubricants for special and environmentally sensitive applications.