Pyrolysis-derived algal oil: A sustainable and high-performance green bio-lubricant

Abstract

Lubricating oils are essential in the mechanical industry, but their petroleum-based origin raises increasing environmental concerns. Bio-based lubricants offer a potential solution, provided they can achieve comparable performance and cost-competitiveness with conventional mineral-based and synthetic lubricants. Therefore, this study investigated the performance, biodegradability, and toxicity of pyrolysis-derived algal oil as a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional lubricating oils. The pyrolytic algal-based lubricating oil exhibited a flash point of 273°C, indicating a reduced fire hazard, and a pour point of -15°C, suggesting suitability for low-temperature applications. The key advantages of this algal lubricating oil are its high biodegradability and low toxicity. It also demonstrated 85% degradation within 28 days. Toxicity levels have been assessed using both aquatic organisms and soil microbes. This algal lubricating oil is found to have low toxicity, with LC₅₀ values of 125 mg/L for Daphnia magna and 150 mg/L for Danio rerio. Furthermore, the results showed that this algal lubricating oil enhanced soil microbial activity by 10%. The impact on plant life was assessed by monitoring germination and growth. A 90% germination rate is recorded, and subsequent plant growth is positive, with an observed biomass increase of up to 85%. Spill recovery tests demonstrated high recovery efficiencies of 85% in water and 80% in soil. The findings of this study support the use of pyrolysis-derived algal oil as a sustainable alternative to traditional lubricants.