Evaluation of <i>Sargassum</i> spp. Oil as a Potential Additive for Biolubricant Formulations

Macroalgae-derived oils offer a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional mineral oils and additives in lubricant formulation. Their favorable fatty acid profiles can contribute to mitigating the environmental impacts caused by using fossil-based products. This study evalu...

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Main Authors: Georgia M. González-Meza, Carlos C. Rubio-Hernández, Itzel Y. López-Pacheco, Lizbeth D. López-Pacheco, Benjamín M. Marín-Santibáñez, Esteban F. Medina-Bañuelos, Elda M. Melchor-Martínez, Leonardo I. Farfan-Cabrera
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/12/12/2242
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Summary:Macroalgae-derived oils offer a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional mineral oils and additives in lubricant formulation. Their favorable fatty acid profiles can contribute to mitigating the environmental impacts caused by using fossil-based products. This study evaluates the potential of <i>Sargassum</i> spp. oil, collected from the Mexican Caribbean, as a lubricity-enhancing additive in synthetic base oils. The impact of <i>Sargassum</i> spp. oil on viscosity and tribological performance was analyzed. The results indicated that <i>Sargassum</i> spp. oil has potential as an anti-wear additive since a formulation using 10% <i>v/v Sargassum</i> spp. oil in a synthetic lubricant (PAO6) resulted in a wear scar diameter value of 703.03 ± 15.56 µm, which is about 10% lower than PAO6 used as commercial synthetic control. Additionally, the formulation significantly enhanced the viscosity index, with a value of 169, which was notably higher than the control (137). The parameter of the coefficient of friction was significantly reduced from 0.1 to 0.08 (about 27%) when using the formulation with 10% <i>v/v Sargassum</i> spp. oil. These findings underline the potential of algae oils as additives in synthetic lubricants, promoting a transition towards greener products and reducing the environmental impact derived from conventional formulations of polyalphaolefins and esters.
ISSN:2077-1312