Chemical Modification of Dehydrated Castor Oil for Synthesis of Biolubricant

Abstract

Vegetable oils have been used as the potential feedstock for the synthesis of biolubricants. This paper focuses on the chemical modification of dehydrated castor oil (DCO). Biolubricant is synthesized via epoxidation of a blend of dehydrated castor oil with waste cooking oil (analyzed by GC-MS), prepared by reaction of oil with peroxyformic acid (H2O2 and formic acid) in the presence of H2SO4 as catalyst. Complete conversion of oil was achieved with oxirane value 5, and iodine value reduces from 128 to 4 I2/g. The resultant epoxidized product was confirmed using FT-IR and NMR analysis. The epoxidized oil was then transesterified with methanol using CH3COONa as catalyst with the molar ratio of 12:1 (Epoxidized oil: Methanol). The synthesis of biolubricant was confirmed by FT-IR and NMR results. Thus, it is revealed from this study that chemically modified DCO acts as a potential basestock for the synthesis of biolubricant.