SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERISATION OF BIOLUBRICANT DERIVED FROM NEEM OIL

Abstract

This study focuses on the production and characterization of a sustainable biolubricant using neem seed oil through the transesterification process. Neem seed oil is non-edible and can be transesterified to methyl esters to serve as the main component for an environmentally friendly biolubricant. The biolubricant was characterized using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) to identify the major compounds that contribute to the physical, and lubrication properties of the biolubricant. Analysis using GC-MS identified the presence of major fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) including methyl oleate, methyl linoleate, and methyl palmitate, along with phthalates which act as plasticizers and triterpene hydrocarbons, squalene. These compounds collectively demostrated improvements on pour point, viscosity, and viscosity index of the biolubricant. This work demonstrates the potential of using neem oil derived FAMEs as sustainable biolubricant formulation due to their renewable, biodegradable, and non-harmful nature, compared with conventional mineral-based lubricants.