Production Of Lubricants Research Articles

The Slippery Slope: Lubricant Use and Rectal Sexually Transmitted Infections: A Newly Identified Risk

Use of lubricant products is extremely common during receptive anal intercourse (RAI) yet has not been assessed as a risk for acquisition of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Between 2006 and 2008, a rectal health and behavior study was conducted in Baltimore and Los Angeles as part of the University of California, Los Angeles Microbicide Development Program (NIAID IPCP# #0606414). Participants completed questionnaires, and rectal swabs were tested for Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis with the Aptima Combo 2 assay, and blood was tested for syphilis (for RPR and TPHA with titer) and HIV. Of those reporting lubricant use and RAI, STI results were available for 380 participants. Univariate and multivariate regressions assessed associations of lubricant use in the past month during RAI with prevalent STIs. Consistent lubricant use during RAI in the past month was reported by 36% (137/380) of participants. Consistent past month lubricant users had a higher prevalence of STI than inconsistent users (9.5% vs. 2.9%; P = 0.006). In a multivariable logistic regression model, testing positive for STI was associated with consistent use of lubricant during RAI in the past month (adjusted odds ratio: 2.98 95% confidence interval: 1.09, 8.15) after controlling for age, gender, study location, HIV status, and numbers of RAI partners in the past month. Findings suggest some lubricant products may increase vulnerability to STIs. Because of wide use of lubricants and their potential as carrier vehicles for microbicides, further research is essential to clarify if lubricant use poses a public health risk.

Improved synthesis and characterization of saturated branched‐chain fatty acid isomers

AbstractThe development of viable technologies for producing green products from renewable fats and oils is highly desirable since such materials can serve as replacements for non‐renewable and poorly biodegradable petroleum‐based products. Mixtures of saturated branched‐chain fatty acid isomers (sbc‐FAs), commonly referred to as isostearic acid, are important intermediates for the production of biodegradable lubricants, cosmetics, emollients, and hydraulic fluids. Present methods for producing sbc‐FAs, however, often give low yields of sbc‐FAs or sbc‐FA preparations with a high content of dimer acid fatty acid co‐products. This study reports an improved route to synthesizing sbc‐FAs from monounsaturated fatty acids using a modified H‐Ferrierite zeolite catalyst in conjunction with small amounts of triphenylphosphine additive. The yields of sbc‐FAs (up to 80 wt%) and co‐products (up to15 wt%) were determined using a modification of a previously reported GC method. A more detailed analysis of the distribution of sbc‐FA isomers in the products was made by the combined use of GC × GC‐TOF‐MS. Additionally, it was found that the H‐Ferrierite zeolite catalyst was recyclable and reusable up to 10 times without significant loss of activity and selectivity for sbc‐FAs.

Analysis of hazardous organic residues from sodium hydrosulfite industry and utilization as raw materials in a novel solid lubricant production

The hazardous organic residual wastes produced by the sodium hydrosulfite industry are demonstrated to be convertible into a novel solid lubricant. Identification and isolation of the organic residues are achieved by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). FTIR and GC–MS provide important information about the residues and the two main components obtained by column chromatography are further analyzed by NMR. The main organic residues are found to be thiodiglycol and 2,2′-dithiodiethanol which have potential applications in petroleum drilling because of their S–S and/or C–S functional groups. The lubricity of the organic residues is subsequently studied and the influence of different adsorbents on the lubricity is investigated and discussed. This homemade lubricant is observed to have good lubricity and by increasing the concentration of the commercial solid lubricant M, the lubricity diminishes. The process is expected to not only have commercial impact but also help to reduce environmental pollution.

Use of oil-tank bottoms for the production of rail lubricant

The composition of oil-tank bottoms is investigated. It is proposed that these deposits be used as a liquid base for producing rail lubricant.

Dispersion and attenuation on the Brillouin sound waves of a lubricant: Di(2-ethylhexyl) sebacate under high pressures

The Brillouin spectra of di(2-ethylhexyl) sebacate, which is a liquid lubricant known as DOS, were measured at up to 5 GPa at 25 °C and up to 2.5 GPa at 80 °C. At 25 °C, the Brillouin frequency linewidth (acoustic attenuation) has a large maximum at 0.1 MPa, and at 80 °C, it has a large broad maximum at 0.8 GPa. The Brillouin frequency shift (sound velocity) and linewidth obtained indicate that the large dispersion of the sound velocities of DOS occurs from 0.1 MPa at 25 °C and from 0.8 GPa at 80 °C. The origins of this attenuation and dispersion are discussed on the basis of the theory for a viscoelastic liquid. It is proposed that the large acoustic attenuation and dispersion of DOS are due to the production of higher-rank structures with nano-order domains in a polymeric liquid by pressurization. The results show that DOS is strongly viscoelastic above 0.8 GPa at 80 °C, but it is not viscous below 0.8 GPa at 80 °C, with the disappearance of the frequency dispersion. The result obtained is used to explain a limiting shear stress observed in a traction oil. Above a given sliding speed, the oil reaches the region of temperature and pressure in which its viscosity decreases with increasing shear rate and conveys a constant torque above some high shear rate. Then, the oil flows as a plastic solid at a limiting shear stress. These findings regarding the dynamical properties of DOS under high pressures are very useful for the production and analysis of lubricants and traction oils.

Oligomerisation of linear 1-olefins using a chlorogallate(III) ionic liquid

A Lewis acidic chlorogallate(III) ionic liquid, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium hepta-chlorodigallate(III), [C2mim][Ga2Cl7], was successfully used to oligomerise 1-pentene. The influence of temperature, time, catalyst concentration, and stirring rate on conversion and product distribution was modelled using a design of experiment (DoE) approach (chemo-metrics). The process was optimised for lubricant base oils production; the C20–C50 fraction (where Cn indicates the number of carbons in the oligomer) was maximised, while the heavier oligomer fraction (>C50) was minimised.

Nutritional reserves of Vochysiaceae seeds: chemical diversity and potential economic uses

Contents of proteins, carbohydrates and oil of seeds of 57 individuals of Vochysiaceae, involving one species of Callisthene, six of Qualea, one of Salvertia and eight of Vochysia were determined. The main nutritional reserves of Vochysiaceae seeds are proteins (20% in average) and oils (21. 6%). Mean of carbohydrate contents was 5. 8%. Callisthene showed the lowest protein content (16. 9%), while Q. cordata was the species with the highest content (30% in average). The contents of ethanol soluble carbohydrates were much higher than those of water soluble carbohydrates. Oil contents lay above 20% for most species (30. 4% in V. pygmaea and V. pyramidalis seeds). The predominant fatty acids are lauric (Q. grandiflora), oleic (Qualea and Salvertia) or acids with longer carbon chains (Salvertia and a group of Vochysia species). The distribution of Vochysiaceae fatty acids suggests for seeds of some species an exploitation as food sources (predominance of oleic acid), for other species an alternative to cocoa butter (high contents or predominance of stearic acid) or the production of lubricants, surfactants, detergents, cosmetics and plastic (predominance of acids with C(20) or C(22) chains) or biodiesel (predominance of monounsaturated acids). The possibility of exploitation of Vochysiaceae products in a cultivation regimen and in extractive reserves is discussed.

Draft genome sequence of the oilseed species Ricinus communis

Castor bean (Ricinus communis) is an oil crop that belongs to the spurge (Euphorbiaceae) family. Its seeds are the source of castor oil, used for the production of high-quality lubricants due to its high proportion of the unusual fatty acid ricinoleic acid. Castor bean seeds also produce ricin, a highly toxic ribosome inactivating protein, making castor bean relevant for biosafety. We report here the 4.6X draft genome sequence of castor bean, representing the first reported Euphorbiaceae genome sequence. Our analysis shows that most key castor oil metabolism genes are single-copy while the ricin gene family is larger than previously thought. Comparative genomics analysis suggests the presence of an ancient hexaploidization event that is conserved across the dicotyledonous lineage.

Transesterification reaction of the fat originated from solid waste of the leather industry

The leather industry is an industry which generates a large amount of solid and liquid wastes. Most of the solid wastes originate from the pre-tanning processes while half of it comes from the fleshing step. Raw fleshing wastes which mainly consist of protein and fat have almost no recovery option and the disposal is costly. This study outlines the possibility of using the fleshing waste as an oil source for transesterification reaction. The effect of oil/alcohol molar ratio, the amount of catalyst and temperature on ester production was individually investigated and optimum reaction conditions were determined. The fuel properties of the ester product were also studied according to the EN 14214 standard. Cold filter plugging point and oxidation stability have to be improved in order to use the ester product as an alternative fuel candidate. Besides, this product can be used as a feedstock in lubricant production or cosmetic industry.

Regeneration of used protective fluids with selective solvents

The possibility of utilizing used protective liquids based on mineral oil containing high-molecular-weight polyisobutylenes and antioxidants by regenerating them with selective solvents and subsequent use of the regenerated oil in production of lubricants was investigated.

Phytomining of plant enzymes for biotechnological use of fats and oils

AbstractHuman history is closely linked to the use of plants as valuable sources for nutrition, commodities and energy as well as a multitude of raw materials, such as fats, oils and natural polymers like cellulose or starch. However, only recently, plants have become a cornerstone of sustainable industry by exploiting lead structures and biosynthetic pathways for the modification of renewable resources. The chemical industry already uses plant oils as renewable feedstock. Unsaturated fatty acids are well‐suited raw materials for the production of polymers, plasticizers and lubricants. Doubtlessly, the wealth of plant biosynthetic pathways makes them an attractive source of fascinating new enzymes for fat and oil modification and new biotechnological applications. The use of plant enzymes and compounds in industrial biotechnology offers new means to address energy savings and increases in efficiency and sustainability. Discovery and evaluation of suitable enzymes can be done via phytomining, an iterative approach unlocking the huge potential of plant biodiversity while aiming to increase the efficiency of current production processes, e.g. by complementing microbial production lines with a suitable gene, or implementing completely new and innovative fermentation processes. This article reflects potential biotechnological and industrial uses of (plant) oils and enzymes as well as the use of the phytomining platform to gain required enzymatic functions from plants.

ORIGINAL RESEARCH: Biocatalytic production of fatty epoxides from rapeseed & tall oil derivatives: Process & environmental evaluation

Rapeseed and tall oil are important renewable feedstocks for chemicals and energy – the former, an agricultural crop, and the latter, is a by-product of the pulp and paper industry. This report presents a study on the production of fatty epoxides from rapeseed methyl ester, tall oil methyl ester, and tall oil fatty acids by a solvent-free lipase-mediated process. Fatty epoxides are useful reactive building blocks for production of lubricants, plasticizers, and surfactants. Epoxidation of the different raw materials exhibited similar reaction speeds, energy requirements, and final conversions, and the epoxide products were biodegradable and nontoxic up to high concentrations. From environmental and economic perspectives, however, the use of tall oil as raw material is preferable to rapeseed. For the chemo-enzymatic process of epoxidation to be economically feasible, improvements in biocatalyst cost and/or stability are still needed.

Acceptability and use of sexual barrier products and lubricants among HIV-seropositive Zambian men.

This study assessed the acceptability and preference for sexual barrier and lubricant products among men in Zambia following trial and long-term use. It also examined the role of men's preferences as facilitators or impediments to product use for HIV transmission reduction within the Zambian context. HIV-seropositive and -serodiscordant couples were recruited from HIV voluntary counseling and testing centers in Lusaka between 2003 and 2006; 66% of those approached agreed to participate. HIV seropositive male participants participated in a product exposure group intervention (n = 155). Participants were provided with male and female condoms and vaginal lubricants (Astroglide [BioFilm, Inc., Vista, CA] & KY gels [Johnson & Johnson, Langhorne, PA], Lubrin suppositories [Kendwood Therapuetics, Fairfield, NJ]) over three sessions; assessments were conducted at baseline, monthly over 6 months and at 12 months. At baseline, the majority of men reported no previous exposure to lubricant products or female condoms and high (79%) levels of consistent male condom use in the last 7 days. Female condom use increased during the intervention, and male condom use increased at 6 months and was maintained over 12 months. The basis for decisions regarding lubricant use following product exposure was most influenced by a preference for communicating with partners; participant preference for lubricant products was distributed between all three products. Results illustrate the importance of development of a variety of products for prevention of HIV transmission and of inclusion of male partners in interventions to increase sexual barrier product use to facilitate barrier acceptability and use in Zambia.

Coupling Fatty Acids by Ketonic Decarboxylation Using Solid Catalysts for the Direct Production of Diesel, Lubricants, and Chemicals

In bed with magnesium: Long-chain alkanes that can be used as alternative premium diesel or lubricants can be obtained by a four-step process in a single reactor with two catalyst beds. First, two fatty acid molecules are coupled by ketonic decarboxylation over MgO. The carbonyl product is then hydrogenated, and after the elimination of water the resulting olefin is further hydrogenated to produce the alkane in up to 58 % yield (Pt/MgO). Supporting information for this article is available on the WWW under http://www.wiley-vch.de/contents/jc_2476/2008/z800103_s.pdf or from the author. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.

Heterogeneous catalysts for the production of new lubricants with unique properties

Abstract The heterogeneously catalyzed nucleophilic addition of carboxylic acid to the epoxide center in the epoxidized methyl- cis -9-octadecenoate (eOME) was attempted and the lubricant properties of the resulted hydroxy esters are reported. It is demonstrated that solid acid catalysts like Nafion, Nafion–silica composites (SAC), Amberlyst 15, Amberlite IR 120, zeolite H-Y and montmorillonite were promising and selective catalysts for hydroxy ester formation at reaction temperature 30 °C. The lubricant properties of various hydroxy esters were evaluated by rotary bomb testing, which indicates higher oxidation stability of the hydroxyl di esters than the starting material, methyl oleate. The viscosity index calculation shows that the viscosities of the hydroxy esters are significantly influenced by the size of the carbon chain and nature of the carboxylic acid.

Production of greases from industrial petroleum wastes

Petroleum-containing industrial wastes and petroleum products lost during processes (losses) are quantitatively and qualitatively basic environmental pollutants-of water, soil, and air. Some petroleum wastes from production and use of lubricants (greases, motor and industrial oils, etc.) are collected and regenerated. Wastes which are not regenerated due to their physicochemical properties are dangerous environmental pollutants.

Analysis of Condom Lubricants for Forensic Casework*

The detection of DNA is inhibited in cases of sexual assault involving condom use. Trace evidence, including condom lubricant residues, provides crucial associative evidence in such cases. The existing Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) methods for lubricant analysis and detection are limited with regard to sensitivity and discrimination. The aim of this research was to establish a new method as an alternative to FTIR for the analysis of condom lubricant residues. Pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (PyGC-MS) and GC-MS are highly sensitive methods of analysis for a wide range of chemical substances. PyGC-MS and GC-MS were used to analyze condom lubricants in standard solution, from clean swabs and from postcoital swabs. Pyrolysis of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) lubricant forms cyclic products known as cyclic dimethyl siloxanes (DMS), which are separated and detected by the GC-MS. The polyethylene glycol (PEG) lubricant can be analyzed by GC-MS directly from solution. The methods of extraction and analysis presented in this paper were shown to be significantly more sensitive than FTIR for the analysis of PDMS and PEG condom lubricants. PDMS was detected as low as 1 mug in standard solution and from clean swabs using the PyGC-MS method. PEG was detected as low as 0.5 microg from standard solution and 50 mug from clean swabs using the GC-MS method. Unfortunately, we were unable to provide further discrimination between condom brands and subbrands. The methods established throughout the research were used successfully to detect condom lubricants from donated postcoital swabs. Lubricants were detected in abundance on swabs 12 h postcoitus. Recommendations are made regarding implementation of new methods for routine analysis of casework samples along with strict pyrolysis interpretation criteria to minimize the possibility of misinterpretation of false positives.

Production and use of food-grade lubricants

This article is an extended summary of the report prepared by the Lubricants Subgroup of the European Hygienic Equipment Design Group (EHEDG) published in February 2002. It is the 23rd in the series of EHEDG summaries to be published in TIFS. The full report prepared by Piet Steenaard (Chairman), Henk Maas, Jan van den Bogaard, Richard Pinchin and Marcel de Boer is available from CCFRA at [email protected]. Information about EHEDG can be found on the website at http://www.ehedg.org. The production of EHEDG guidelines is supported by the European Commission under the Quality of Life Programme, project HYFOMA (QLK1-CT-2000-01359).

Identification of key oil refining technologies for China National Petroleum Co. (CNPC)

This paper summarizes the results from the project “Vision of the Key Petroleum Refining Technologies for China National Petroleum Co. (CNPC) in the Early 21st Century” undertaken by the Department of R&D Administration, CNPC, and its affiliate key laboratory, The Key Laboratory of Catalysis operated by China University of Petroleum, Beijing. The objective of the project was to identify the challenges and opportunities of CNPC's petroleum refining business given increasing economy globalization and stricter environmental regulations. Using the modified Delphi method, four key technologies for CNPC's oil refining industry were identified. They are: integrated fluid catalytic cracking (FCC), hydroprocessing, residue hydrocracking, and high-grade lubricant production. The most significant technology will be the integrated FCC technology that can economically increase the yield of light fractions as well as upgrade transportation fuels. In China, FCC units produce about 80% and 30% commercial gasoline and diesel, respectively. To ensure compliance with future environmental legislation, hydroprocessing technologies, including those related to petroleum product hydrorefining and distillate hydrocracking, should be developed. By combining residue hydrocracking and FCC technologies, poorer quality residua can be processed. Supplying high-grade lube oils is one of the main tasks for CNPC's oil refining industry. Development of hydrodewaxing technologies to manufacture API group II/III base oil is the main direction for CNPC's lubricant production business.

Hydrophobic, solid acid catalysts for production of biofuels and lubricants

A novel application of Fe–Zn double-metal cyanide (DMC) complexes as solid catalysts in the preparation of fatty acid alkyl esters (biodiesel/biolubricants) from vegetable oils is reported. The catalysts are hydrophobic (no H2O adsorption at reaction temperatures) and contain only Lewis acidic sites (NH3 and pyridine adsorption). Brönsted acid sites are absent (absence of 1546 and 1639 cm−1 bands on adsorption of pyridine). Basic sites are also absent (no CO2 adsorption). Unlike the homogeneous or other solid catalysts (like ZnO–Al2O3, for example), the Fe–Zn, DMC catalysts are highly active even for the simultaneous transesterification of triglycerides and esterification of the free fatty acids (FFA) present in unrefined and waste cooking oils as well as non-edible oils. They are also tolerant of water, probably, due to their surface hydrophobicity. A relationship between the transesterification activity and the concentration of strong Lewis acid sites has been observed. Coordinatively unsaturated Zn2+ ions in the structure of the Fe–Zn complex are the probable active sites.