DEVELOPMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY BIOLUBRICANT BASESTOCK FROM Jatropha curcas SEED OIL

Jatropha curcas seed oil was studied for the synthesis of trimethylolpropane based biolube basestock via chemical transesterification of Jatropha methyl ester (JME) with trimethylolpropane (TMP) using calcium hydroxide catalyst. Reaction temperatures ranged between 80 to 160°C and methyl esters to TMP mole ratios ranged between 3:1 to 7:1. Product analysis, ester groups and physio-chemical properties were obtained by gas chromatography, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and American Society for testing and material (ASTM) standard methods, respectively. Gibbs free energy indicated that the reaction was spontaneous with a second order rate constant of 1.00E-01 (%wt/wt min °C)−1 and kinetic energy of 13.57 kJ/mol. Jatropha biolubricant (JBL) had the following properties: viscosity of 39.45 and 8.51 cSt at 40 and 100°C, respectively; viscosity index of 204, pour point of -7°C and flash point of 178°C. Temperature and mole ratio were the main factors that influenced the reaction. JBL properties complied with ISO VG 32 standard and could be applied as lube basestock with minor modifications.