|
Allen, M. A.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria
Ekam, S. U.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria
Ntunde, D. I.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria
Chima, M. O.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria
Okoye, O. A.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
The growing environmental and sustainability
concerns associated with petroleum-based lubricants have intensified the search
for renewable and biodegradable alternatives. In this study, a sustainable
biolubricant was synthesized from non-edible shea butter oil (Vitellaria paradoxa) using a modified
nano-sized heterogeneous silica catalyst derived from palm bunch husk via the
sol–gel method. This was done by the acid-catalyzed esterification to minimize
the concentration of free fatty acids, then transesterification to form methyl
esters and finally polyol esterification of ethylene glycol to form
biolubricant. Physicochemical characteristics of the raw oil, intermediates,
and end biolubricant were also attained systematically using common analytical
methods, like FTIR, SEM-EDX and GC-MS, reaction parameters (temperature,
catalyst loading, reaction time, stirring speed, biodiesel-to-ethylene glycol
ratio) were optimized to maximize the biodiesel yield. The best yield of 68%
was obtained at 140 oC, 0.5-0.75 wt.% loading of catalysts, 4 h
reaction time, 400 rpm stirring rate, and 4.5: 0.5 biodiesel-ethylene glycol
ratio. The produced biolubricant had a high index of viscosity (150), better
pour point (15.6 oC), and better thermal stability with most of the
characteristics matching ISO VG 46 requirements. These results reveal that it
is technically viable to use shea butter oil and bio-derived nanocatalysts to
produce high-performance biolubricants that can be used in hydraulic and
automotive applications.
Keywords: Renewable, Biodegradable alternatives, Synthesized, Modified nano, Sustainable biolubricant
https://doi.org/10.33922/j.ujet_v12i2_2
|
View: 5 | Download: 0
Published
Sunday, May 03, 2026
Issue
Vol. 12, No. 2, June 2026
Article Section
GENERAL
|
