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A potential biodegradable lubricant from castor biodiesel esters
Author(s) -
Silva José André Cavalcanti,
Habert Alberto Cláudio,
Freire Denise Maria Guimarães
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
lubrication science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.632
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 1557-6833
pISSN - 0954-0075
DOI - 10.1002/ls.1205
Subject(s) - ricinoleic acid , castor oil , lubricant , viscosity index , biodegradation , mineral oil , chemistry , base oil , biodiesel , organic chemistry , pulp and paper industry , viscosity , waste oil , vegetable oil , waste management , chemical engineering , catalysis , materials science , engineering , composite material , scanning electron microscope
Worldwide, 12 million tonnes per year of lubricants are disposed of in the environment through leakages, exhausted gas, incorrect disposal, water–oil emulsions and so on. Some are resistant to biodegradation, representing an environmental threat. One solution to modify this situation is the replacement of mineral oils by biodegradable synthetic lubricants. Esters, whose chemical structures are similar to natural triglycerides, are excellent substitutes for mineral oils. Castor oil contains around 90% ricinoleic acid, and as a result, castor oil has a higher viscosity and a lower viscosity index, compared with other vegetable oils. This work was based on the production of biodegradable lubricant base fluids from castor biodiesel esters, using various chemical catalysts to yield products with interesting properties, such as high viscosity index and good oxidation stability, compared with mineral oils. This route to lubricants is safer, more economical and more efficient. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.