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Research Article

Characterization of bio-lubricants with nanoparticles additives

, ORCID Icon & ORCID Icon
Pages 3684-3706 | Received 22 Nov 2023, Accepted 01 Feb 2024, Published online: 13 Mar 2024
 

ABSTRACT

It is well known that lubricating oils reduce the friction coefficient between two surfaces in contact. Since petroleum lubricants are toxic and have a low biodegradability, they are typically not appropriate for the environment. As a result, as public worries about a pollution-free environment grow, so does the demand for lubricants that are acceptable to the environment. The primary rationale for utilizing vegetable oils in forthcoming bio-lubricant formulations is their high lubricating performance, low toxicity, sustainable, and biodegradability. Plant oils hold great potential as a foundational fluid for bio-lubricants, since their synthetic and vegetable oil-based esters provide the most environmentally friendly option for creating lubricants. In this study, Jatropha and Jojoba raw oil were chemically modified via epoxidation followed by transesterification to produce bio-lubricants. Thus, the aim of this work is to develop a bio-lubricant from jatropha and jojoba methyl ester, further adding nanoparticles multiwalled nanotubes and titanium dioxide for improvement of tribological properties. The chemical modification of the jatropha and jojoba oil results in a decrease in iodine value, resulting in the breaking of carbon bonds. Viscosity tests were performed using the Anton Par MCR 92 Rheometer, with temperature ranging from 30°C to 80°C. Thermal stability measurements of bio-lubricants were performed using PerkinElmer’s Thermogravimetric analyzer − 4000 instrument and thermal degradation temperature for Epoxidized Jatropha – sulfuric acid, Epoxidized Jatropha – hydrochloric acid, Epoxidized Jojoba – sulfuric acid and Epoxidized Jojoba – Hydrochloric acid samples are 238°C, 224°C, 230°C, and 244°C, respectively. The 94.68% and 79.85% reduction in wear was obtained for Epoxidized Jojoba with hydrochloric acid, titanium dioxide and epoxidized Jatropha with sulfuric acid, multiwalled carbon nanotubes in comparison with their epoxidized samples. The coefficient of friction of Epoxidized Jatropha with sulfuric acid, multiwalled carbon nanotubes and Epoxidized Jojoba with Hydrochloric acid, Titanium dioxide sample was found to be 0.061 and 0.059, respectively.

Nomenclature

JA=

Jatropha raw oil

JO=

Jojoba raw oil

H2SO4=

Sulfuric acid

HCl=

Hydrochloric acid

MWCNT=

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes

TiO2=

Titanium dioxide

NaOCH3=

Sodium methoxide

TMP=

Trimethylolpropane

hBN=

Hexagonal boron nitride

CuO=

Copper oxide

PAO=

Polyalphaolefin

MoS2=

Molybdenum disulfide

SiO2=

Silicon dioxide

TGA=

Thermogravimetric analysis

EJA-H2SO4=

Epoxidized jatropha methyl ester with H2SO4 catalyst

EJA-HCl=

Epoxidized jatropha methyl ester with HCl catalyst

EJO-H2SO4=

Epoxidized jojoba methyl ester with H2SO4 catalyst

EJO-HCl=

Epoxidized jojoba methyl ester with HCl catalyst

EJA-H2SO4-MWCNT=

Epoxidized jatropha methyl ester with H2SO4 catalyst and MWCNT nanoparticle

EJA-HCl-MWCNT=

Epoxidized jatropha methyl ester with HCl catalyst and MWCNT nanoparticle

EJA-H2SO4-TiO2=

Epoxidized jatropha methyl ester with H2SO4 catalyst and TiO2 nanoparticle

EJA-HCl-TiO2=

Epoxidized jatropha methyl ester with HCl catalyst and TiO2 nanoparticle

EJO-H2SO4-MWCNT=

Epoxidized jojoba methyl ester with H2SO4 catalyst and MWCNT nanoparticle

EJO-HCl-MWCNT=

Epoxidized jojoba methyl ester with HCl catalyst and MWCNT nanoparticle

EJO-H2SO4-TiO2=

Epoxidized jojoba methyl ester with H2SO4 catalyst and TiO2 nanoparticle

EJO-HCl-TiO2=

Epoxidized jojoba methyl ester with HCl catalyst and TiO2 nanoparticle

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal for providing financial assistance through Intra Mural fund (Ref: MAHE/CDS/PHD/IMF/2019) for the Ph.D. work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Manipal Academy of Higher Education [MAHE/CDS/PHD/IMF/2019].

Notes on contributors

Rajendra Uppar

Rajendra Uppar is a full-time research scholar in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at Manipal Institute of Technology Manipal. Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India.

P. Dinesha

P. Dinesha is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, at Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India. He obtained a doctoral degree from the National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal, India in the area of alternative fuels. His research interests include engine combustion, alternative fuels, pollution, and biomass waste management, biolubricants etc.

Shiva Kumar

Shiva Kumar is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, at Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India. He obtained a doctoral degree in the area of internal combustion engines from Visvesvaraya Technological University, Belagavi, India. His research interests include engine combustion, alternative fuels, pollution, biolubricants,heat transfer, CFD studies, and nanofluids.