Synthesis and Study of Bio-Lubricant from Jatropha Vegetable Oil

Abstract

Bio-lubricant is synthesized using non-edible Jatropha vegetable oil. The chemical modification through double transesterification using sodium methoxide is done to remove fatty acid and Benzoic acid is added as additive. The additive is added to the double transesterified Jatropha oil in the ratio of 0%, 1%, 2% and 3% by weight. Then the physical and tribological characteristics such as flash point, kinematic viscosity, wear and frictional characteristics of synthesized bio-lubricant are experimentally studied. From the experimental results, the double transesterified Jatropha oil with 2 wt% of Benzoic acid additive is shown to provide a good anti-wear property with less coefficient of friction as compared to mineral oils SAE5W30 and SAE10W30. Thus, the global demand for petroleum based lubricants is found to be reduced by non-edible Jatropha oil through proper chemical modification and addition of benzoic acid additive in proper wt%.