Production of Environmentally-Acceptable BioLubricants for Hydropower Applications

RiKarbon, Inc. will commercialize an enabling technology for the production of Environmentally-Acceptable Lubricants (EALs) from plant matters and natural oils. The produced Bio-Lubricants (BioLubes) with branched architecture, improved properties and durability, and tunable specifications will have a wide range of high-performance applications, e.g., hydropower production, lubrication of engines and machinery of cruise and ships, and non- marine industrial and consumer segments. The market size of EALs is $6 billion with estimated CAGR of 9% out of total global lubricant market size of $60 billion at an annual consumption volume of 40 million tons. Our technology and products innovation will bring significant societal, economic and market benefits, which include (1) feedstock flexibility for BioLubes from diverse and sustainable carbon neutral feedstock; thus, addressing environmental eco-system by producing “green” alternative to materials that are currently obtained from petroleum, (2) versatile product applications with better performance, durability, and biodegradability, enabling safe water recycling, management and sustainability, and (3) cost-competitive products with significant market penetration opportunity and growth potential. In Phase I, RiKarbon researchers will advance the commercial viability of the technology and product by performing three key technical objectives – (1) Produce BioLubes with differentiated structures, (2) Produce products in quantity for various analyses and testing, and (3) Develop process design and detailed techno-economic analysis. In addition, we will perform comparative business analysis of the current technologies and competitors, analyze the dynamic of the market trend, and establish relationship with potential customers and partners.