Comparative evaluation of lubricant properties of jatropha and jojoba methyl ester

Abstract

It is well known that lubricating oils can reduce the coefficient of friction between two contacting surfaces. Owing to their poor biodegradability and toxicity, petroleum lubricants are typically deemed unacceptably harmful to the environment. These oils have a significant negative impact on both human and plant life and contaminate air, soil, and drinking water. Consequently, the public’s concerns about a pollution-free environment are growing along with the demand for ecologically friendly lubricants. Because of their superior lubricity, biodegradability, viscosity-temperature properties, and low volatility, plant oils hold promise as basis fluids for lubricants. In the current work, jatropha and jojoba oil were converted into bio-lubricants by chemical modification processes such as transesterification and epoxidation using H₂SO₄ and HCl catalysts. The kinematic viscosity of jatropha ester increases by 12.93 and 123.22%, and that of jojoba ester increases by 15.91 and 104.24% at 32 and 90 °C, respectively, when the concentration of the catalyst is increased from 0.3 to 0.9 ml for H₂SO₄ catalyst. Similarly, for the HCl catalyst, the kinematic viscosity values of jatropha are increased by 5.43 and 30.25%, and for jojoba, 20.84 and 50.96% at 32 and 90 °C, respectively. The epoxidized jatropha had greater experimental flash and fire point values than the epoxidized jojoba. The anti-wear and friction-reduction qualities were tested using an Anton Paar TRB³ ball on a disk. In comparing the 0.9 ml concentration of jatropha bio-lubricant samples to the 0.3 ml concentrations, the percentage reduction in wear was 31.68% for epoxidized jatropha—HCl catalyst, and 33.95% for epoxidized jatropha—H₂SO₄ catalyst.

Keywords:

• Lubricants
• transesterification
• epoxidation
• kinematic viscosity
• flash and fire points
• ball on disk tribometer

Reviewing Editor:

• Dr. Ian Phillip Jones, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Subjects:

• Tribology
• Clean Tech
• Transport & Vehicle Engineering

Author contributions

Rajendra Uppar: conceptualization, investigation, formal analysis, writing-original. Shiva Kumar: supervision, visualization, writing-review and editing. P. Dinesha: Supervision, Writing-review and editing.

Disclosure statement

No potential competing interest was reported by the authors.

Data availability statement

Data can be made available on a reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

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

Notes on contributors

Rajendra Uppar

Rajendra Uppar is a Research Scholar in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, at Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India. He is pursuing his doctoral degree in the area of bio-lubricants with nanoparticle additives for diesel engines. He has published his research papers in reputed international journals and conferences. His research interests include renewable energy, engine combustion, alternative fuels and bio-lubricants usage in CI engines, combustion emissions reduction etc.

Shiva Kumar

Shiva Kumar is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, at Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India. His research interests include refrigeration and air conditioning, bio-lubricants, desiccant-based dehumidification and humidification, Engine combustion, Alternative fuels, and pollution control. Professor Kumar has published more than 95 papers in reputed journals and conference proceedings.

P. Dinesha

P. Dinesha is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, at Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India. His research interests include waste to energy conversion, bio-lubricants, CO₂ capture, Engine combustion, Alternative fuels, and pollution control. Professor Dinesha has published more than 75 papers in reputed international journals and conference proceedings.