The Catalysed Transformation of Vegetable Oils or Animal Fats to Biofuels and Bio-Lubricants: A Review

Abstract

This review paper summarizes the current state-of-the-art of the chemical transformation of oils/fats (i.e., triacylglycerols) to the use of biofuels or bio-lubricants in the means of transport, which is a novelty. The chemical transformation is necessary to obtain products that are more usable with properties corresponding to fuels synthesized from crude oil. Two types of fuels are described—biodiesel (the mixture of methyl esters produced by transesterification) and green diesel (paraffins produced by hydrogenation of oils). Moreover, three bio-lubricant synthesis methods are described. The transformation, which is usually catalysed, depends on: (i) the type and composition of the raw material, including alcohols for biodiesel production and hydrogen for green diesel; (ii) the type of the catalyst in the case of catalysed reactions; (iii) the reaction conditions; and (iv) types of final products. The most important catalysts, especially heterogeneous and including reaction conditions, for each product are described. The properties of biodiesel and green diesel and a comparison with diesel from crude oil are also discussed.

Development of Doped Carbon Quantum Dot-Based Nanomaterials for Lubricant Additive Applications

“…In particular, the earliest recognized usage of lubricant can be dated back to prehistoric Egypt, where architects used water-lubricated wooden boards in order to move large stones to build the pyramids [7]. The water-based lubricants were slowly substituted by regular vegetable oils and animal fats, which then remained the primary lubricants until the advent of the petroleum industry [8]. As the petroleum-based industry boomed, different mineral oils started quickly displacing animal fats and vegetable oils as the main manufacturing lubricants [8].…”

Natural Volcanic Material as a Sustainable Photocatalytic Material for Pollutant Degradation under Solar Irradiation

“…The excited electrons in the valence band are also reactive with dissolved oxygen species, generating superoxide radicals that also decompose pollutant compounds [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]. Analogous to biofuel production [ 17 ], the current research on photocatalysis focuses on developing new materials with high activity and stability. Figure 1 shows a simplified diagram of the photocatalytic mechanisms of pollutant degradation.…”

Lubrication Performance of Sunflower Oil Reinforced with Halloysite Clay Nanotubes (HNT) as Lubricant Additives

“…Even with these efforts, the use and disposal of mineral or synthetic lubricants and conventional additives which have been used for decades have shown to be harmful to the environment [2]. Recently, studies have been conducted to find new additives and lubricants that are friendly to the environment [2][3][4][5][6][7]. The use of vegetable oils was common until the nineteenth century as they are easily obtainable from natural sources.…”