DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF BIOGREASE FROM BIOBASED OIL USING PALM BUNCH LYE, AND MORINGA OLEIFERA LEAF

Journal: Acta Chemica Malaysia (ACMY)
Author: Ifediorah E. I, A.K. Babayemi, O. L. Eluno, E. E. Eluno
ISSN: 2576-6732
e-ISSN: 2576-6724

This is an open access journal distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

DOI: 10.26480/acmy.01.2025.44.54

In this study, the chemical modification of glycerin; from cottonseed oil to grease, a lubricant of economic significance, and the utilization of lye, a bio alkali from a waste product of plant origin has been explored. Glycerin was obtained through transesterification of cottonseed oil, characterized and designed using Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry FTIR and Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Samples of bio-alkali and Moringa oleifera extract were prepared and characterized using FTIR. The produced grease samples were characterized using FTIR. The performance of the grease samples were analyzed based on their dropping point, BOD, water and corrosion. The functional groups of glycerin include polar atoms, single and double bond structures, which show that the glycerin is good for lubricating grease. The Moringa oleifera leaf was found to be rich in alkaloids, flavonoids, and a high number of saponins. Functional groups of lye and Moringa oleifera show suitable thickening and corrosion inhibitory properties respectively. Experimental glycerin yield was obtained as 49.01%. Dropping points of 167.77oC and 166.32oC were obtained for grease samples produced using lye and NaOH soaps respectively. meanwhile 14.94 ppm, and 17.67 ppm were the corresponding respective BOD values. Comparative analysis of the grease parameters showed that grease with a thickener of palm residue competes favorably with that of NaOH as a thickener. The quadratic model effectively describes the glycerin yield. The point at which it drops is able to handle temperatures produced with gearboxes, and the bio-alkali grease’s consistency is within ASTM standards, making it appropriate for a variety of applications.