Sustainable Hydrocarbon Biolubricants from Algae and Waste Materials

Date:16 April 2023

Country: United States

Application

• Eco-friendly lubricants: Hydrotreated bio-oils can replace conventional mineral oils in biolubricant formulations, offering sustainable alternatives with lower environmental impact.

Description

This study explores the potential of hydrotreated bio-oils derived from waste materials like algae, sewage sludge, poultry fat, and non-edible oils as hydrocarbon biolubricants. It evaluates their tribological properties, including viscosity, cold flow, and wear characteristics, comparing them to mineral base oils. The results indicate that hydrotreated bio-oils can serve as eco-friendly biolubricant base stocks with promising performance. Key factors such as oxygenates, olefins, and cyclic compounds influence their lubricating properties.

Pathway Description:

The process used in this project is hydrotreatment (HYD), which involves the catalytic conversion of bio-oils derived from algae, sewage sludge, poultry fat, and non-edible oils. This process uses high temperature, pressure, and hydrogen to upgrade the bio-oils into hydrocarbon-based biolubricants. The resulting biolubricants are then evaluated for tribological properties like viscosity, cold flow, and wear characteristics. The hydrotreatment process produces eco-friendly lubricants from waste-derived feedstocks.