A renewable lipid source for biolubricant feedstock oil from housefly (Musca domestica) larva

Sheng-qing Wu, Zi-zhe Cai, Yi Niu, Dong Zheng, Guo-rui He, Yong Wang and De-po Yang

Renewable Energy, 2017, vol. 113, issue C, 546-553

Abstract: Biolubricants are gaining increased attention because of their low toxicity, high biodegradability, and miscibility with additives. These features render them ideal for lubrication, especially in total-loss processes. In this study, housefly (Musca domestica) larvae were used as low-cost, non-food biolubricant feedstock. A larval lipid with high acid value (AV) of 63 mg KOH/g was used as feedstock for esterification to produce 2-ethylhexyl fatty acid esters (2-EH esters). We developed a method of producing high-purity 2-EH esters in which housefly larva free fatty acids (HLFFAs) were derived from larvae fed with kitchen waste. HLFFAs were esterified with 2-ethyl-1-hexanol (2-EHOH) catalysed with benzenesulfonic acid (BSA). The optimum esterification conditions were as follows: catalyst loading, 0.5 wt%; 2-EHOH-to-HLFFAs molar ratio, 3:1; temperature, 130 °C; and reaction time, 2 h. These conditions yielded 98.6% esterification rate. Excess 2-EHOH was removed by molecular distillation at 80 Pa and 110 °C. Residual fatty acids were neutralised by alkali refining. The chemical and physical properties, including the tribological properties, of the produced high-purity 2-EH esters (>99.7%) were also tested.

Keywords: Musca domestica larva; Biolubricant; 2-Ethylhexyl fatty acid esters; Esterification; Molecular distillation; Alkali refining (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:113:y:2017:i:c:p:546-553

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2017.05.094

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