SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF BIOLUBRICANT FROM DESERT DATE SEED (BALANITES AEGYPTIACA) OIL USING CORN-COB/RICE HUSK BASED CATALYST

Author

Ibrahim Aliyu, M. A. Shibdawa, D. A. Ajiya

Abstract

 The development of biodegradable lubricants from renewable non-edible feedstocks offers a promising alternative to conventional mineral-oil-based lubricants while providing opportunities for agricultural-waste valorization. This study investigated the synthesis of a biolubricant from Balanites aegyptiaca seed oil using a heterogeneous catalyst derived from corncob and rice husk residues. Corncob and rice husk were carbonized, impregnated with potassium hydroxide and calcined under different temperature, time and impregnation conditions. The prepared catalysts were characterized by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface-area analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and CO₂ chemisorption. B. aegyptiaca seed oil was extracted using Soxhlet extraction with n-hexane and converted to fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) through methanolysis. The FAME was subsequently reacted with trimethylolpropane (TMP) using the optimized calcined corncob catalyst. The synthesized biolubricant was evaluated for viscosity, density, flash point, pour point, acid value, moisture content, refractive index and tribological performance. The optimum corncob catalyst was obtained at 700 °C for 3 h, whereas rice husk achieved optimum characteristics at 750 °C for 4 h. The corncob catalyst exhibited a BET surface area of 150.20 m²/g, pore volume of 0.23 cm³/g, basicity of 2.10 mmol CO₂/g and thermal stability up to 800 °C. Rice husk exhibited a higher surface area of 180.50 m²/g and thermal stability up to 850 °C. Under optimized biolubricant synthesis conditions of 3 wt% catalyst loading, 120 °C, 4 h and a FAME:TMP molar ratio of 1:4, a biolubricant yield of 88.70 wt% was obtained. The product exhibited a kinematic viscosity of 45.20 mm²/s at 40 °C, density of 0.865 g/cm³, flash point of 250 °C, pour point of −12 °C and acid value of 0.14 mg KOH/g. The coefficient of friction and wear scar diameter were 0.08 and 0.35 mm, respectively.The results demonstrate that B. aegyptiaca seed oil can serve as a suitable non-edible feedstock for biolubricant production, while KOH-activated corncob provides an effective heterogeneous catalyst. The resulting biolubricant exhibited favourable physicochemical and tribological properties, indicating its potential as a renewable alternative to conventional lubricant base oils.

Keywords

Balanites aegyptiaca, biolubricant, corncob catalyst rice husk, heterogeneous catalyst, biodiesel, tribological properties.,

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References

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