In-Situ Synthesis and Characterization of Biodegradable Estolides via Epoxidation from Canola Biodiesel

Venu Borugadda,Ajay Dalai

doi:10.3390/lubricants6040094

Abstract

Research on the formulation of estolides from plant seed oils has attracted substantial attention due to their favorable low-temperature properties and environmentally friendly nature. The present research investigates the formulation of canola biodiesel derived estolides for low-temperature applications. The dual-step research method includes ring opening of epoxidized canola biodiesel in the presence of oleic acid, followed by esterification with oleic acid to produce estolides using a mesoporous aluminosilicates possessing Modernite Framework Inverted (MFI) type pentasil structure as a heterogeneous acidic catalyst. Prepared catalyst was characterized to measure the properties essential for the effective catalysis. The catalyst demonstrated promising activity for the estolides formation, >95% conversion was achieved at 110 °C for 6 h using 15 wt % of catalyst loading. 1H NMR technique and oxirane oxygen titrimetric analysis were employed to determine product purity. Physicochemical properties of the reaction products were determined by standard methods and characterization results revealed that the formulated estolides had improved low-temperature, lubricity and rheological properties, and thermo-oxidative stability. Also, biodegradability of the estolides was found to be 92% within 28 days as per the bio-kinetic model. Wear scar diameter of 106 µm was noticed for 10% of alkoxide blend with standard diesel fuel. Overall, outcomes of the physicochemical characterization data indicated that the prepared estolides can act as possible alternative bio-lubricant basestock for various low-temperature applications.

Highlights

In pursuit of environmentally friendly products and processes, vegetable oils and their derivatives are beginning to economically supplant fossil fuel derivatives in the market
An Catalyst in-depth characterization was carried out for the catalyst to identify and measure the propertiesAnthat are essential for thewas efficient formulation of estolides
Denotes the perseverance of prepared estolides performed with simple biodegradability reagents via epoxidation, an oxirane opening followed by estolides was in the ecosystem

Summary

Introduction

In pursuit of environmentally friendly products and processes, vegetable oils and their derivatives are beginning to economically supplant fossil fuel derivatives in the market. Modifying the structure of the vegetable oils is one of the most beneficial techniques to convert them into value-added products. Epoxidation of vegetable oils makes numerous value-added chemicals, fuels and lubricant basestocks such as hydroxyl derivatives, alkoxides, estolides, and esterified products. There have been several studies reported on the preparation of epoxides, hydroxyl derivatives and alkoxides from different sources of vegetable oils along with thorough physicochemical characterization of the end products [2,3]. Findings from those studies reported that low-temperature performance is still limited to those derivatives. Owing to excellent low-temperature properties and thermo-oxidative stability associated with vegetable oil based derivatives, estolides are gaining much attention

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Conclusion