Lubricants are necessary for many kinds of machinery to operate effectively, particularly in the automotive sector. In addition to preventing corrosion, reducing wear and friction, and transmitting power, lubricants have numerous other uses. However, most automotive and industrial lubricants come from petroleum, a non-renewable and harmful resource to the environment. As a result, there is rising interest in creating sustainable alternatives such as green or renewable lubricants and lubricant additives.
Green or Renewable Automotive Industrial Lubricants
Lubricants made from renewable resources, including plant-based oil as possible to petroleum, are called green or renewable oils. They go by the names bio or synthetic-based lubricants as well. Green and renewable industrial oils and lubricants include:
Synthetic Base Oil
Synthetic base oils are manufactured from plants by chemicals or biological means. These oils are extracted from sunflower or soybean. They share many characteristics and qualities with traditional synthetic oils, including a high viscosity index, minimal volatility, and a stable temperature.
They can be employed to create distinct kinds of lubricants for diverse uses.
Oleic Acid
One type of fatty acid from plant oils like sunflower or soybean oil is oleic acid (omega-9 fatty acid). Due to its power to create a protecting coating on metal surfaces and lower wear and friction is frequently employed as an antiwear ingredient in lubricants. Additionally, it can increase lubricants’ biodegradability and oxidative stability.
Polyalkylene Glycols (PAGs)
Synthetic polymers known as polyalkylene glycols (PAGs) are made from ethylene oxide or propylene oxide, which can be sourced from biomass like corn or sugar cane. They work pleasingly with various materials and have good lubricity and thermal stability. They can be added to water-based or high-temperature greases or utilized as base oils.
Green or renewable wholesale industry lubricants have many benefits, including their biodegradability—the power to break down more readily in the environment. In the event of leaks or spills, this lowers the chance of pollution and environmental contamination. Likewise, compared to traditional lubricants, green or renewable lubricants usually contain lower toxicity levels, reducing harm to nature and human health. PAGs are composed of repeating units of alkylene oxide, typically ethylene oxide (EO) and propylene oxide (PO). The specific arrangement and molecular weight of these units can vary to produce PAGs with different properties.
Advantages And Considerations of Using Environmental Lubricants
However, there are specific problems with using green or renewable lubricants, like:
- Cost: Compared to traditional lubricants, the production of green or renewable oils often calls for more detailed and costly methods. The price of finished goods and raw materials increases as a result. Similarly, the quality and amount of renewable resources vary based on the time of year and region, which could have an impact on the availability and cost of green or renewable lubricants.
- Performance: When it comes to oxidation resistance, shear stability, and compatibility with seals and elastomers, the performance of green or renewable lubricants may not be as good as or better than that of standard lubricants. This can make them less suited for harsh or warm environments or applications. Thus, after testing their compatibility and reliability, eco-friendly or renewable greases and oils should be engineered by considering the region of use.
Recycling Technique for Lubricants
Recycling lubricants is essential for environmental sustainability and reducing the impact of used lubricating oils on the environment. Here are some samples of recycling methods:
- Refining: This method converts used oil to its original condition by eliminating used additives and impurities. Advanced oil can be used as an industrial fuel or as the base for newly designed lubricants. Refining can save energy and resources by reducing the demands for the manufacture of pure oil and the removal of spent oil.
- Reconditioning: This process removes water, light, and solid particles from old oil to improve its quality. Reconditioned oil can be combined with new oil to increase its lifespan or used again as a lubricant in less demanding applications. Reconditioning extends oil’s life, lowering waste generation and disposal expenses.
- Regeneration is the process of eliminating impurities, including bacteria, tramp oil, and metal chips, from spent metalworking fluids to improve their performance. Metalworking fluids that have been regenerated might be mixed with new fluids to enhance their qualities or utilized again for machining operations. Regeneration preserves fluid quality, which lowers fluid consumption and disposal expenses.
Advantages Of Recycling Automotive and Industrial Lubricants
Numerous advantages exist for recycling for both the economy and the environment, including:
- Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Recycling helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the extraction, processing, shipping, and burning of oil. According to an Argonne National Laboratory study, recycling one gallon of used oil can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1.1 kg compared to creating one gallon of virgin oil.
- Keeping The Environment Safe: Recycling decreases the need for crude oil and other raw materials, saving natural resources. As per the American Petroleum Institute, one gallon of re-refined oil may be made by recycling two gallons of used oil, whereas 42 gallons of virgin oil are demanded to develop an equal quantity of crude oil.
- Generating Income And Jobs: For the recycling industry and its associated industries, including distribution, processing, transportation, and collecting, recycling creates income and jobs. According to a report by Kline & Company, the global market for advanced base oils was estimated to be worth $2.5 billion in 2020 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5% until 2025.
The petrochemical industry’s lubricants sector is experiencing notable improvements and changes to meet the increasing sustainable and eco-friendly goods market. Two significant elements affecting the future of the lubricant business are recycling and green or renewable lubricants. These products can deliver a range of advantages in terms of fuel economy, emissions, performance, durability, prices, and resources; they have important effects on the automobile industry. However, there are several drawbacks to these developments as well, including problems with market acceptability, cost competitiveness, and performance consistency. As a result, the lubricant and automotive industries must collaborate to overcome these barriers and take advantage of the opportunities that lie ahead.
