Synthesis and Characterisation of a Biolubricant from Cameroon Palm Kernel Seed Oil Using a Locally Produced Base Catalyst from Plantain Peelings

Abstract

Biolubricant was synthesized from Cameroon palm kernel oil (PKO) by double transesterification, producing methyl esters in the first stage which were then transesterified with trimethylolpropane (TMP) to give the PKO biolubricant in the presence of a base catalyst obtained from plantain peelings (municipal waste). The yields from both catalysts were significantly similar (48% for the locally produced and 51% for the conventional) showing that the locally produced catalyst could be valorized. The synthesized biolubricant was characterized by measuring its physical and chemical properties. The specific gravity of 1.2, ASTM color of 1.5, cloud point of 0˚C, pour point of −9˚C, viscosities at 40˚C of 509.80 cSt and at 100˚C of 30.80 cSt, viscosity index of 120, flash point greater than 210˚C and a fire point greater than 220˚C were obtained. This synthesized biolubricant was found to be comparable to commercial T-46 petroleum lubricant sample produced industrially from mineral sources. We have therefore used local materials to produce a biolubricant using a cheap base catalyst produced from municipal waste.

Comparative Analyses of Physicochemical Properties of Artisanal Refined Gasoline and Regular Automotive Gasoline

“…Gasoline samples with a specific gravity >0.75 will have a high burning rate and thus would be required in larger quantities. It might also result in complete detonation (pinging) of the spark-ignited engine (Alang et al, 2018 ).…”

Process Modelling and Optimization of Green Lube Oil Synthesis

“…This study has focussed on modelling and optimizing the process parameters on the production of bio-lubricant from palm kernel oil by reacting Palm kernel oil methyl ester (PKOME) and TMP (a polyol) together, using KOH catalyst. The optimization of the process parameters was done using Source: Petroleum lube oil standard was adopted from work of Michael Bong Alang et al [3].…”

“…Table 3 depicts the actual and predicted yield of the bio-lubricant. The experimental data obtained from the trans-esterification reaction was analysed by the RSM regression using the polynomial equation shown in (3) .…”

Investigation on Synthesis of Trimethylolpropane (TMP) Ester from Non-edible Oil

“…This probably due to high level of saturation from palmitic content ( 52.52%) that may remove the effect of cis-unsaturation in biolubricant [19]. According to Alang et al result, a higher pour point increases thermal stability and can endure mechanical stress better than petroleum lubricants [33].…”