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Conversion of Pistacia atlantica mutica oil to trimethylolpropane fatty acid triester as a sustainable lubricant

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Abstract

Biolubricants have received growing interest as potential substitutes to conventional petroleum-based lubricants. Due to their renewability, biodegradability, and superior properties compared with mineral lubricants, they can play a significant role in overcoming some of the global challenges such as dependency on petroleum-based products, reduction in energy consumption, and environmental pollution. The objective of this research is to determine effective factors in biolubricant synthesis from Pistacia atlantica mutica oil as a novel indigenous feedstock which covers more than 1.2 million hectares of jungles in Iran. In this regard, a solid base–catalyzed transesterification reaction was applied in the presence of potassium carbonate as a cost-effective heterogeneous catalyst. The reaction parameters then were optimized using response surface methodology. The optimum values of operating parameters for the reaction were the methyl ester to trimethylolpropane molar ratio of 5:1, a vacuum pressure of 424.5 mmHg, and a catalyst concentration of 1.45 wt.% that resulted in the reaction yield of 82.5%. The physicochemical properties of the final product were evaluated and were comparable with those of the ISO VG-22 reference lubricant standard.

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Acknowledgments

The authors express their thankful regards for Prof. Paolo Bondioli, the head of the Oils, Fats, and Derivatives Department of Milan INNOVHUB-SSI-SSOG Institute for his review and constructive feedbacks and our colleagues from TMU Renewable Energies Research Institute who provided insight and expertise that greatly assisted this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biosystems Engineering Department, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran

    Sharokh Mehdi & Ali Asghari

  2. Biosystems Engineering Department, Tarbiat Modares University, Jalal Ale Ahmad Highway, Tehran, Iran

    Barat Ghobadian

  3. Department of Agrotechnology, College of Abouraihan, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

    Masoud Dehghani Soufi

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  1. Sharokh Mehdi
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  4. Masoud Dehghani Soufi
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Correspondence to Ali Asghari.

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Mehdi, S., Asghari, A., Ghobadian, B. et al. Conversion of Pistacia atlantica mutica oil to trimethylolpropane fatty acid triester as a sustainable lubricant. Biomass Conv. Bioref. 10, 139–148 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-019-00452-y

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