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Sustainable bio-lubricant blends from mustard oil and castor oil: physico-chemical, thermal, rheological, and tribological characterizations for eco-friendly alternatives to commercial engine oil

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Abstract

The quest for sustainable and environmentally friendly lubrication solutions in industrial applications has led to the exploration of bio-lubricants as alternatives to conventional petroleum-based lubricants. This study presents the development, characterization, optimization, and comparative analysis of bio-lubricants based on mustard oil and castor oil blends, with a particular focus on their performance when compared to commercial engine oil. The physico-chemical, thermal, rheological, and tribological characteristics have been investigated. Examination has been done for the temperature resistance, cold flow characteristics, coefficient of friction, and wear scar diameter. The optimized formulation has been found to offer increased viscosity index, flash point, and thermal stability. The coefficient of friction and weld load have been observed to be improved with the new formulation compared to the commercial mineral oil sample. The importance of this research lies in the urgent need to reduce the environmental impact of lubrication processes, which are integral to countless industrial operations. The use of bio-lubricants derived from renewable sources not only addresses this concern but also aligns with global sustainability goals.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, National Institute of Technology Calicut, Kerala, 673601, India

    Amina Hamnas & Unnikrishnan Gopalakrishna Panicker

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  1. Amina Hamnas
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AH: conceptualization, methodology, validation, formal analysis, resources, characterization, data curation, supervision, writing—original draft, and writing—review and editing

UG: methodology, validation, formal analysis, data curation, supervision, and writing—original draft and proofreading

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Correspondence to Unnikrishnan Gopalakrishna Panicker.

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Hamnas, A., Panicker, U.G. Sustainable bio-lubricant blends from mustard oil and castor oil: physico-chemical, thermal, rheological, and tribological characterizations for eco-friendly alternatives to commercial engine oil. Biomass Conv. Bioref. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-024-05330-w

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