Sains Malaysiana 51(8)(2022): 2507-2529

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2022-5108-13

Synthesis of ISO Grade 46 and 68 Biolubricant from Palm Kernel Fatty Acids

(Sintesis Biopelincir ISO Gred 46 dan 68 daripada Asid Lemak Isirong Sawit)

MURAD BAHADI^1,2, JUMAT SALIMON¹ & DARFIZZI DERAWI^1,*

¹Laboratory for Biolubricant, Biofuels and Bioenergy Research, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

²Faculty of Education, Hadhramout University, Hadhramout, Yemen

Received: 5 September 2021/Accepted: 3 February 2022

ABSTRACT

Bio-based lubricant is crucial to be developed considering the toxicity risk, climate change, energy security, and green-environmental approach. Palm kernel fatty acids based biolubricants were synthesized by the homogeneous acid-catalyzed esterification reaction between palm kernel fatty acids with selected polyhydric alcohols; trimethylolpropane (TMP), di-trimethylolpropane (Di-TMP), and pentaerythritol (PE). The reaction optimization is done using a D-optimal design based on four parameters; the ratio of reactants, reaction time, reaction temperature, and catalyst loading. The optimum yield range between 80 and 87%, with more than 93% the selectivity of biolubricant products. The chemical structures of synthesized Palm kernel fatty acids-based biolubricants were characterized and confirmed using FTIR, NMR (¹H and ¹³C) spectroscopies, and GC-FID chromatography. The FTIR spectra of palm kernel fatty acids-based biolubricants products clearly showed the peaks of C=O and C–O of the ester group at 1741-1740 cm^-1 and 1234-1152 cm^-1, respectively. Furthermore, ¹H NMR spectra confirmed the ester group's proton chemical shift (-CH₂-O-) at 3.96-4.11 ppm. The ¹³C NMR spectra confirmed the carbon chemical shifts of ester carbonyl (C=O) signals at 173.5-173.2 ppm. The results for lubrication properties have shown that the palm kernel fatty acids based biolubricants have low-temperature properties with pour points value in the range of -5 to -10 °C, a high flash point of 320-360 °C, a high viscosity index (VI) of 140.86-154.8, the kinematic viscosity of 41.76-87.06 cSt (40 °C), 8.73-14.77 cSt (100 °C), and thermal stability over 210 °C. All synthetic lubricants are categorized as ISO 46 (TMP triester) and ISO 68 (Di-TMP tetraester and PE tetraester).

Keywords: Biolubricant; fatty acids; palm kernel; polyhydric alcohols; polyol esters

ABSTRAK

Pelincir berasaskan bio adalah penting untuk dibangunkan dengan mengambil kira risiko ketoksikan, perubahan iklim, keselamatan tenaga dan pendekatan persekitaran hijau. Pelincir berasaskan asid lemak isirong sawit telah disintesis oleh tindak balas pengesteran bermangkin asid homogen antara asid lemak isirong sawit dengan alkohol polihidrik terpilih; trimethylolpropane (TMP), di-trimethylolpropane (Di-TMP) dan pentaerythritol (PE). Pengoptimuman tindak balas dilakukan menggunakan reka bentuk D-optimum berdasarkan empat parameter; nisbah bahan tindak balas, masa tindak balas, suhu tindak balas dan beban mangkin. Julat hasil optimum antara 80 dan 87%, dengan lebih daripada 93% selektiviti produk biopelincir. Struktur kimia biopelincir berasaskan asid lemak isirong sawit yang disintesis telah diciri dan disahkan menggunakan spektroskopi FTIR, NMR (¹H dan ¹³C) dan kromatografi GC-FID. Spektrum FTIR bagi produk biopelincir berasaskan asid lemak isirong sawit jelas menunjukkan puncak C=O dan C–O kumpulan ester masing-masing pada 1741-1740 cm^-1 dan 1234-1152 cm^-1. Tambahan pula, spektrum ¹H NMR mengesahkan anjakan kimia proton kumpulan ester (-CH2-O-) pada 3.96-4.11 ppm. Spektrum ¹³C NMR mengesahkan anjakan kimia karbon bagi isyarat karbonil ester (C=O) pada 173.5-173.2 ppm. Keputusan untuk sifat pelinciran telah menunjukkan bahawa biopelincir berasaskan asid lemak isirong sawit mempunyai sifat suhu rendah dengan nilai titik tuang dalam julat -5 hingga -10 °C, takat kilat tinggi 320-360 °C, kelikatan yang tinggi. Indeks (VI) 140.86-154.8, kelikatan kinematik 41.76-87.06 cSt (40 °C), 8.73-14.77 cSt (100 °C) dan kestabilan terma melebihi 210 °C. Semua pelincir sintetik dikategorikan sebagai ISO 46 (TMP triester) dan ISO 68 (Di-TMP tetraester dan PE tetraester).

Kata kunci: Alkohol polihidrik; asid lemak; biopelincir; ester poliol; isirung kelapa sawit

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^*Corresponding author; email: darfizzi@ukm.edu.my