A cleaner approach for biolubricant production using biodiesel as a starting material

• We reported a solvent-water-free enzymatic synthesis of 2-ethyl-1-hexyl oleate.
• Biodiesel exposed to be an efficient starting material.
• Fifty litres of biolubricant was successfully synthesized in a batch type reactor.
• Proposed synthesis is a cleaner alternative for oil-derived lubricant production.
• Industrial application of the developed route can extend sales markets of biodiesel manufacturers.

By this study we aimed to develop a green and cleaner alternative to the existing oil-derived lubricant production by providing the market biolubricant synthesis catalyzed by enzymes. Moreover, the use of biodiesel to develop a higher added-value product is a very attractive solution for biodiesel production manufacturers in extending their production supply and the potential sales markets, especially in the East Europe region. The synthesis of 2-ethyl-1-hexyl oleate (biolubricant) was studied using commercially available immobilized lipase Lipozyme TL IM, biodiesel as a source of fatty acids and relatively cheap 2-ethyl-1-hexanol. The transesterification reaction was performed in solvent-free and water-free system. 2-Ethyl-1-hexyl oleate was successfully synthesized in 50 L scale with 100 % conversion in 10 h of reaction time at 60 °C temperature. The physico-chemical properties of 2-ethyl-1-hexyl oleate were estimated.