Synthesis of biolubricant from various based methyl esters: article

Recently, the research on biolubricant production has been rising in order to fulfil biodegradable base stock. The purpose of this research was to emphasize on the production of eco-friendly biolubricant from various based methyl ester by using the process of two stages transesterification. Biolubricant from trimethylolpropane (TMP) triesters from methyl ester based of waste cooking oil (WCOME) and rubber seed oil (RSOME) were synthesized via transesterification reaction with TMP in the three-necked bottom flask. 2 % (w/w) of para-Toluenesulfonic acid (pTSA) was added as catalyst in the reaction. In this study, the effect of time, temperature and molar ratio of FAME to TMP were observed on transterification reaction based on the percentage conversion of FAME as reactant to be converted into the final product, biolubricant. Analysis of resulting biolubricant was carried out by Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrophotometer (GC-MS) system to determine the composition of the synthesized biolubricant while the presence of ester functional group was displayed by performing Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. The synthesized lubricant were characterized according to American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard method based on these properties: Cloud point (ASTM D97), Pour point (ASTM D97), Specific gravity (ASTM D941-55) and Viscosity (ASTM D445). Experimental results has reviewed that the optimum condition for the production of WCOME based biolubricant were found at the following conditions such as temperature 150ºC, 4 h reaction time, 3:1 ratio of FAME to TMP and 2% (wt/wt) of p-TSA as catalyst. A comparative study for biolubricant between WCOME and RSOME based were also studied. In addition, these polyol based esters exhibit appropriate basic properties as a lubricant because both methyl ester based demonstrate comparable characteristic to the requirement of standard lubricant ISO VG46.