Biodegradable Lubricant from Esterified Propoxylated Glycerol

Current hydropower facilities employ a variety of electrical and mechanical equipment that necessitate the use of lubricants to ensure efficient operation of said equipment.The lubricants, either oils or greases, aid in reducing friction, dissipating heat, prevent oxidation, and sealing of water and debris from vital areas of the equipment.During operation, equipment may be submerged or otherwise come in contact with water, posing a risk of the lubricant leaking into a sensitive environment.Development of a high-performance, biodegradable, and nonbioaccumulating lubricant for use in hydropower facilities would significantly reduce the environmental risk posed by an otherwise green power generation technology.The objective of this Phase II SBIR program is to optimize and validate esterified propoxylated glycerol (EPG) composition(s) developed under the Phase I SBIR program as environmentally acceptable lubricant (EAL) ISO VG 68 turbine oil formulations.The discreet composition(s) investigated will be expected to meet or exceed the performance standards of current ISO 68 rust and oxidation (R&O) oils utilized as turbine oils and general-purpose lubricants in many US hydropower facilities.The purpose of the Phase I SBIR research program was to demonstrate the technical feasibility of utilizing fluid EPG compositions as a base oil for environmentally acceptable lubricants.During the Phase I program, EPG’s technical potential as an EAL base oil was clearly demonstrated with pour point temperatures < -9 °C, viscosity in the range of ISO VG 46-68, and adequate wear resistance for a neat base oil.The Phase I research program was a success as Tetramer was able to demonstrate the technical potential of EPG as an EAL base oil.Additionally, Tetramer demonstrated methods of modifying EPG base oils utilizing environmentally friendly components and built relationships with raw materials suppliers and potential production partners.During the proposed Phase II program Tetramer will refine and validate the composition of the EPG EAL base oil through lubricant specific testing and will develop and validate additive packages to maximize the performance of EPG EAL(s) as fully formulated turbine oil replacements for hydropower facilities.Turbine oils are the bulk lubricants utilized in hydropower and are the primary focus of the Phase II work, secondary applications as biodegradable transformer oils and greases will be investigated during the Phase II work as well.Beyond hydropower, the development of high-performance bio-based and biodegradable lubricants has the potential to impact multiple applications and commercial uses such as: marine lubricants, process oils, industrial lubricants, and automotive lubricants.