Technical Performance and Chemical–Physical Property Assessment of Safflower Oil Tested in an Experimental Hydraulic Test Rig

Abstract

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is an underestimated and multipurpose crop resistant to environmental stresses. Its oil presents useful chemical–physical properties, potentially exploitable for industrial purposes as a bio-based lubricant. In this work safflower oil was applied as a less toxic alternative to mineral-based hydraulic fluids. The extracted oil was partially refined and the antioxidant tert-buthylhydroquinone (THBQ) was added at two concentrations (0.25 and 3.00 mg kg−1). Efficiency tests of the obtained oil were carried out using an experimental test rig capable of simulating a real hydraulic system and performing severe short-duration work cycles with the aim of strongly accelerating the ageing of the tested oil. Oil performance was verified by monitoring hydraulic and chemical–physical parameters, which were correlated to the main lubricant properties through sensor detection and laboratory analysis in parallel. The results indicated that the safflower oil behaved well at both THBQ concentrations and showed good technical performance (operating pressure and temperature; flowrate and transmitted hydraulic power), though a higher THBQ concentration was necessary to protect the oil’s chemical–physical properties from worsening. In fact, the higher THBQ concentration allowed the test to be extended to 270 h, an improvement compared to the 150 h that was achieved with the lower THBQ concentration. Finally, the use of safflower oil for industrial and agricultural purposes seems feasible and would contribute toward the sustainability of the whole crop rotation in a prospective valuable circular economy.

Physico-Chemical Properties of Refined Oil Based on Maturity Level and Drying Time of Nutmeg Mace (Myristica Fragrans Houtt)

“…In the production capacity of essential oil refining, large quantities of nutmeg mace are required to be sufficient, therefore it is generally dried first and then collected and when there is sufficient production capacity, the nutmeg mace is ready to be refined. Drying is a processing method using heat which aims to extend the shelf life of food (Ugolini et al 2023). Likewise nutmeg mace is required during storage purposes drying as a preservation measure before further processing.…”

Olive Pomace Oil as a Chainsaw Lubricant: First Results of Tests on Performance and Safety Aspects

“…These qualities give the vegetable oils chain lubricant requirements similar to petroleum-based chain oils [16][17][18]. Our research group developed a solid background with several previous research projects; the last of them was the Agroener Project, supported by the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, leading to the design and the test of hydraulic fluids based on Crambe abyssinica and Carthamus tinctorius oils, minimally refined [19,20]. In a previous paper, the preparation and evaluation of hydraulic fluid based on ROPO was also discussed.…”