ABSTRACT
Petroleum-refining technologies were improved to produce Mineral oil (MO) with lower levels of unsaturated hydrocarbons and fewer sulfur and nitrogen heteroatoms for better performance as lubricant base stocks. MO base stocks for lubricants are obtained from crude oils that have been selected on the basis of their composition, supply, requisite refining technology, finished product quality, location, and other factors. To improve Vegetable oil (VO) performance properties for lubricant applications, biotechnological and other advances have been applied to triglycerides. Electrolysis is being used to convert VOs and animal fats into long-chain hydrocarbons for lubricant base stocks. Plant-based oils are “split” or hydrolyzed to produce fatty acids. Ester-functionalized polyalphaolefin are saturated linear hydrocarbons with branches similar to polyalphaolefins, although some branches are terminated with ester groups. Governments worldwide have continued to promote the use of renewable raw materials from plants and other renewable agricultural, marine, and forestry materials in so-called bio-based products including bio-lubricants.
