LUBRICITY PROPERTIES OF BIOLUBRICANT PRODUCED FROM MARULA KERNEL OIL (Sclerocarya birrea) BLENDED WITH MINERAL OIL

Authors

  • DADDA’U MUHAMMAD Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria-Nigeria.
  • USMAN MUSTAPHA Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria-Nigeria.
  • SHEHU HARUNA BALARABE Department of Applied Chemistry, Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna-Nigeria.
  • MUSA ABDULLAHI Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria-Nigeria.

Abstract

The rising concern over the existing lubricants have driven the need for biolubricants, extensively anticipated as the most suitable and sustainable lubricating oils. In this study, a biolubricant was synthesized from Marula kernel oil (MKO) via a two-step transesterification process using trimethylolpropane (TMP), in the presence of potassium hydroxide as catalyst. The kernel oil was first extracted then characterized using standard laboratory techniques before being chemically modified to produce Marula kernel oil biolubricant (MKOB). The synthesized biolubricant and its blends with mineral oil were analyzed for their lubricity properties. The results obtained shows that the kinematic viscosity at 40 ℃ and 100 ℃ were (9.3 cSt) and (3.3 cSt) respectively, viscosity index was quite high with a value of (207) while the flash and pour point value were (215 ℃) and (11 ℃) respectively. The lubricity properties of the synthesized biolubricant were comparable with those of the mineral oil (SAE 20) and are also within the range of recognized testing standards such as viscosity grade 32 (ISO-VG-32). From the results obtained, it can be deduced that the blends of the MKO biolubricant with mineral oil (SAE20) in various proportions were proved to have the quality lubrication properties, making them a suitable alternative to mineral oil based lubricant, and could therefore be used to reduce the consumption of mineral oil, which will in turn help to achieve a greener future.

Keywords:

Biolubricant, Mineral Oil, Marula Kernel Oil, Lubricity, Transesterification, Blending

Published

30-04-2024

How to Cite

DADDA’U MUHAMMAD, USMAN MUSTAPHA, SHEHU HARUNA BALARABE, & MUSA ABDULLAHI. (2024). LUBRICITY PROPERTIES OF BIOLUBRICANT PRODUCED FROM MARULA KERNEL OIL (Sclerocarya birrea) BLENDED WITH MINERAL OIL. International Journal of African Innovation and Multidisciplinary Research, 4(2). Retrieved from https://mediterraneanpublications.com/mejaimr/article/view/341

Issue

VOL. 4 2024

Licensing

Copyright (c) 2024 DADDA’U MUHAMMAD, USMAN MUSTAPHA, SHEHU HARUNA BALARABE, MUSA ABDULLAHI

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.