High Performance Lubricants from Renewable Sources

Dr A K Gupta, Ex. Scientist , Indian Institute of

Petroleum, Dehradun
Current Trends

 Due to steep increase in crude oil prices (current price ~$145/bbl) there is
a renewed interest in alternatives to mineral oil based lubricants

 The global drive towards the use of lubricants having minimum impact on
the environment is increasing. This trend is likely to spread to more
general adoption of alternative lubricant base stocks.

 Recent environment, health and safety pressures are currently bringing

about fresh evaluation of natural and synthetic alternatives for specialized
application.

 Due to high cost, synthetics may not penetrate the market to a large
extent.

 Therefore the focus is on lubricants and functional fluids derived from

renewable natural sources.

Three major natural renewable sources for lubricating oils and functional fluids
are:

1. Vegetable oils
2. Starch, cellulose and sugars
3. Algae oil

Main advantages of vegetable oil based lubricants over mineral oils

include:

 High biodegradability

 Low toxicity

 High flash point

 High viscosity index

  High lubricity

 Compatibility with paints and seals

Main disadvantages of vegetable oil based lubricants :

 Lower oxidation stability

 Poor low temperature properties
 Poor hydrolytic stability
 Price (Now comparable with mineral oil)

The properties of vegetable oil based lubricants can be tailor made to suit the
specifications and performance by two mehods::

1. Through the use of additives

2. Suitable chemical transformation of vegetable oil such as

hydrogenation, trans-esterification, epoxidation, condensation and
acetylation reactions

In view of these trends, we have developed several lubricating oils and

functional fluids from vegetable oils. These include:

1. Lube base oils

2 Metal working fluids
3 2-stroke Engine oil
4 Hydraulic oil
5 Insulating oil
6 Gear Oil
7 Lubricating Greases

All of these products can be prepared using vegetable oils and non-edible
oils in particular.such as Rice bran oil, Mahua oil, Neem oil, Castor oil,
Leanseed oil, Jatropha Curcas Oil, Salvadora Oil, Karanj Oil, Soyabean oil,
rapeseed oil, algae oil and mixtures thereof.

Evaluation of bio-lubricants

The specific properties of the lubricating oils and functional fluids are
determined using standard test methods The Bio-lubricating oils are likely to
meet the current standard specs.
Base oils from vegetable oils

Vegetable oils can be transformed into lube base stocks by simple chemical
transformations. The base oil properties depend upon the type of vegetable
oil and chemical transformation applied.

Typical Properties of Vegetable Oil based Lube base stocks

Property Value range

Viscosity at 100°C, cSt 4 to 16

Viscosity Index 110-300

Pour Point, °C 0 to - 30 or below

The lubricity characteristics friction and wear data (HFRR Test) is much better
than that of mineral oil base stocks.Volatilities are much lower than the mineral
oil base stocks of corresponding viscosity range. Pour point depressants and VI
improvers are not generally required. Other advantages include low deposits, low
oil consumption, and high degree of environment friendliness. Cost marginally
higher than mineral base oils

2-Stroke Engine Oil (2T-Oil)

Vegetable oil ester lubricants are suitable for use as 2T-oils.

2T-Oil Performance

 Vegetable oil based 2T-oil offers little better performance than

conventional Mineral based or synthetic 2T-oils
Typical Product Properties & Specifications
2T-Oils

Test - BIS 14234 2T oil Specs Bio 2T-Oil

Miscibility complete complete
K.Viscosity-cst at 100°C, min 6.5 7.62
K.Viscosity Index, min 95 114
Dosage % in fuel - 1
K.Viscosity-cst at 40°C 21.1 53.5
Flash Point, °C, min >70 218
Relative Density 0.88 0.882
Lubricity Index, min 95 170
Copper strip Corrosion, max 100°C <1 <1
for 3 hours
Panel Coking test, max 20 mg, Pass Pass
Oxidation, 1% max Pass Pass
Pour Point, °C -54 -24

Test - BIS 14234 2T oil Specs Bio 2T-Oil

Ash Sulphate % 0.12 0.08
TAN, mg KOH, max 0.05 0.055
Water, max 0.03 0.02
Detergency Index, min 95 200
Smoke Index, min 85 244
Piston varnish Index, min 90 200
Biodegradability % - >98

Advantages of Bio 2T-Oil

 Likely to give lower emissions as compared to conventional 2T-Oils

 Lower dozes ~ 1%
  Comparable costs

 More biodegradable

 Provides better lubricity

 Enhances oxidative stability of gasoline

 Completely based on renewable sources

Bio-metal Working Fluids

Bio-metal working fluids are chemically modified vegetable oils with added
additives.

Advantages of BioMetal Working Fluids

 Reduces use of petroleum

 Offers better use of non-edible oils
 Produces fewer pollutant waste
 Product is almost completely biodegradable
 Provides better lubricity and extends tool life
 No health hazards due to toxic mist and effluents
 Helps employment general and rural upliftment
Typical Product Properties & Specifications

Metalworking fluid

Test - BIS 3065 Sol. oil Bio metalworking

Specs fluid
K.Viscosity-cst at 100°C 5.30
K.Viscosity-cst at 40°C, 15/30 26.37
Viscosity Index, min 145
Evaporation loss at 40°C 0.06
Flash Point, °C, min >100 210
Relative Density, 20°C 0.9403
Saponification value 16 min 17.5
Copper strip Corrosion, max 100°C <1 <1
for 3 hours
Iron chips corrosion test Pass Pass
Emulsion stability Pass Pass
Reactive sulfur nil nil

Test - BIS 3065 Sol. oil Specs Bio

metalworking
fluid
Ash Sulphate % 0.01 0.008
TAN, mg KOH, max 7 0.055
Panel cocker Deposit, mg, max 20 4
Wear Scar Dia, mm 0.683
Weld load, Kgf 140
Friction coefficient, mm 0.065
Biodegradability % - >98

Test - BIS 3065 Sol. oil Specs Bio

metalworking
fluid
Ash Sulphate % 0.01 0.008
TAN, mg KOH, max 7 0.055
Panel cocker Deposit, mg, max 20 4
Wear Scar Dia, mm 0.683
Weld load, Kgf 140
Friction coefficient, mm 0.065
Biodegradability % - >98

Bio-hydraulic Oils

Vegetable oil based Hydraulic oil formulations offer several advantages over the
mineral oil based or synthetic hydraulic oils.

Main advantages are:

 Almost completely biodegradable

 Less volatile than petroleum and synthetics
 Have higher flash point, safe to use
 Provides improved fire resistance thereby reduces fire hazards

Typical Product Properties & Specifications

Hydraulic Oils
Test - BIS 3098/1983 Specs-VG22 Bio-
Hydraulic
Oils
Miscibility Complete 100 %
Viscosity-cst at 40°C, 19.8-24.2 23.7
Viscosity Index, min 90 220
Dosage % - 1
Viscosity-cst at 40°C 21.1 53.5
Flash Point, °C, min 160 175
Emulsion test, max 40-37-3(20) 10-39-1(20)
Copper Corrosion, max <1 <1
100°C for 3 hours
Oxidation, RBOT, minutes, min 149 303

Pour Point, °C -3 -6
TAN, mg KOH, max reported 0.08
Rust test B, min Pass on 24 hrs Pass
Foaming nil Nil
Seal test-vol/hard, max 4/4 3/3
Biodegradability % - >98

Bio-insulating Oils

Insulating oils such as Transfer oils can be prepared by chemically modifying the
vegetable oils.

 The products are tested for typical characteristics as per specifications

Typical Product Properties & Specifications

Insulating Oils
Test - BIS 12463 Ins oil Specs Bio
Insulating
Oils
Miscibility complete 100 %
Viscosity-cst at 27°C, max 27 5.8
Density at 29°C, max 0.89 0.881
Interfacial Tension at 27°C min 0.04 Nm 50 Nm
Flash Point, °C, min 140 170
Pour Point, °C max -6 -9
TAN, mg KOH, max 0.03 0.005
Reactive Sulfur nil Nil
Copper strip Corrosion, max <1 <1
100°C for 3 hours
Electrical strength, KV, min 30 39

Oxidation, TAN change, max 0.4 – 0.1 0.3

Oxidation, RBOT, minuts, min 195 221
SKValue - 65
Dissipation Fact, 90/27°C,min 0.002 0.08
Water, max 50 ppm 10 ppm
Specific Resistance at 90°C, min 0.5 – 5 x 1010 0.2 x 1012
Biodegradability % - >99

Bio-gear Oils

Vegetable oil based Bio-gear Oils are suitable for industrial applications. The
products offer better physico-chemical characteristics than synthetics or mineral
oil based Gear oils.

Main advantages are:

 Over 98% biodegradable

 High flash point
 Higher lubricity and viscosity Index
 Lower pour point
 Almost non-foaming
Typical Product Properties & Specifications
Gear Oils

Test - BIS 8406 specification Bio-gear Oils

Miscibility - 100 %
Viscosity-cst at 40°C 41.1 – 50.6 56
Viscosity Index, min 90 161
Flash Point, °C, min 180 210
Pour Point, °C -6 -9
TAN, mg KOH, max nil nil
Copper Corrosion, max <1 <1
100°C for 3 hours
Lubricity, fric. Coefficient, - 0.057
Wear scar dia,mm - 0.332
Coking test, max 20 mg, max - Pass

Oxidation, RoBOT, minutes - 200

Rust test, 24 hrs in sea water nil nil
Ash Sulphate %, max 0.1 0.08
Water %, max 0.5 0.3
Foam test, on 3 sequence, max 10-10-10 0-0-0
Air release at 40°C, min., max 10 9
Biodegradability % - >98

Lubricating Greases

 Calcium, magnesium, Lithium and barium greases can be prepared from

vegetable oils. Grease prepared from vegetable oils offer improved
properties particularly with respect to VI, Flash point, pour point, Drop
point, wear scar dia (WSD) and leakage.

 Further the Grease is almost completely biodegradable

Typical Product Properties & Specifications

Li - Grease
Test - BIS 1448 Gear oil Specs Bio Lithium
Grease
Viscosity-cst at 100°C, min 21 45
Viscosity Index, min 40 161
Flash Point, °C, min 189 250
Pour Point, °C 4 -9
TAN, mg KOH, max Nil nil
RoBOT oxidation, min 200 190
Copper Corrosion, max <1 <1
100°C for 3 hours
Grease Formulated ↓
Copper Corrosion, max <1 <1
100°C for 3 hours
Drop point °C, min 180 250
Consistency at 25°C, 60 DS 220-250 230

Friction Coefficient, mm - 0.065

Wear scar dia,mm - 0.232
Free organic acid %, max 0.3 Nil
Free alkalinity %, max 0.2 0.15
Leakage %, max 5 1.3
Rust test, 24 hrs in sea water nil Nil
Deposit , % nil nil
Water washout %, at 80°C max 6 4
Biodegradability % - >98

Conclusions
 The base oils, lubricants and functional fluids from vegetable oils offer
better properties compared to synthetics and Mineral based products.

 Vegetable oil based lubricants (Bio-lubricants) are ecofriendly and

biodegradable
 Comparable in cost to mineral oil based lubricants
 Provides better use of non-edible oils including Jatropha Curcas oil.