Biolubricants: Lubricants for the Future

Lubricants are used in engine and machine parts to reduce wear and tear and ensure smooth functioning of the machinery. Lubricants are mostly of petroleum origin. Lubricants consist of 70% petroleum based oil and the rest 30% are additives which modify the general properties of base oil to meet the requirements. The main problem with petroleum based lubricant is that it is non-biodegradable and may cause stormwater pollution from leaks in engine, hydraulic systems and brake line. Because of environmental pollution by petroleum based lubricants, the scientists and researchers are promoting the use of environment friendly bio-based lubricants.

 Biolubricants are the liquid oils derived from renewable or biomass based feedstocks. Biolubricants are formed either by pyrolysis of biomass or by using two step transesterification of vegetable oils. The bio-crude oil is further refined into biolubricant and various other bio-oil derivatives. Although, vegetable fat and animal fat based oils have good lubricity properties but these oils cannot be used directly as lubricants because of their low melting point and low oxidative stability. Thus, these oils need to be converted by two step transesterification process to achieve suitable properties. Non-edible oils and waste cooking oils can be used for the production of biolubricants.
        Figure 1: Typical Biolubricant     
The advantages of using biolubricants over conventional lubricants are:-
  1. Biolubricants produce a cleaner, less toxic work environment and fewer skin problems for those working with engines and hydraulic systems.
  2. Biolubricants are highly biodegradable.
  3. Biolubricants produce fewer emissions due to higher boiling temperature ranges of esters.
  4. Biolubricants offer better safety due to higher flashpoints, greater viscosity, less oil mist and vapour emissions.
  5. Biolubricants cost less over the product’s life-cycle due to less maintenance, storage and disposal requirements.
Inspite of benefits like high biodegradability, high viscosity and environment friendly, biolubricants are not without disadvantages. The disadvantages of biolubricants are:-
  1. Biolubricants have high viscosity at lower temperatures so may not be effective for use at lower temperatures.
  2. They have poor oxidative stabilty at high temperatures. To improve oxidative stability, anti-oxidants are added to biolubricants.
  3. Biolubricants are costlier than conventional lubricants.
Development of biolubricants require insight in the relationship between physicochemical and tribological properties of ingredients. Switching from lubricants to biolubricants will significantly impact the mechanisms relying on oil performance such as journal bearings, transmission gears, thrust bearings, ball bearings, cam followers and rubber based sealing components. These mechanisms which are originally designed for the use of conventional lubricants, may be altered for the use of biolubricants. It is important to study the impact of biolubricants on the whole tribo-systems before replacing the traditional lubricants.
Figure 2 : EPA infograph about VGP and environmentally acceptable lubricants


References
Location: India

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