ABSTRACT
The depletion in world petroleum reserves and uncertainty in petroleum supply due to political and economical reasons stimulated the search for alternative energy sources. In recent years, pollution and environmental health concerns have become a major debatable topic due to deliberate and accidental lubricant losses to environment including evaporation, leakages, and spills [1]. Thus, strict specifications on various environmental matters such as biodegradability, toxicity, occupational health and safety, and emissions have become mandatory in certain specific areas of applications. It has been recognized for many years that vegetable oils (VO) can be used as fuel and lubricants. The use of VO as fuel has been demonstrated in 1900 at the Paris exposition, where a diesel engine was run wholly on groundnut oil [2].
